DEXA Scans in London
The Power to see what's inside.
Body Composition & Bone Density Scanning at 86 Harley Street
How it works
We are Dexa
Dexa London is provided by 3Beam, a Harley Street diagnostic centre
Worldwide obesity has increased at an alarming rate, making the demand for accurate body composition analysis higher than it’s ever been. There is no better way to evaluate metabolic and obesity related health risks than with a DEXA full body scan.
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FAQs
No — you don’t need a referral from your GP or another doctor. Dr Emil Gadimali, our Medical Director, acts as the internal referrer for all scans at DEXA LONDON. Once you book, your details are reviewed against clinical eligibility criteria before your appointment is confirmed, so everything is handled in-house.
If anything on your form suggests a DEXA scan may not be suitable, we’ll contact you to discuss this and, if needed, advise you to speak to your GP or specialist first.
A body composition DEXA scan gives you a detailed breakdown of what your body is actually made of — far beyond what a set of scales or BMI can tell you. In a single 10-minute scan, you’ll receive:
- Total and regional body fat — your overall body fat percentage, plus how it’s distributed across your arms, legs, and trunk, so you can see asymmetries or areas of concern.
- Lean muscle mass — measured in each limb and your trunk, allowing calculation of your Appendicular Lean Mass Index (ALMI), a clinically validated marker used to screen for sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss).
- Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) — the metabolically active fat stored around your internal organs, which is strongly linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. This is one of the most important numbers on the report and cannot be assessed by BIA scales or tape measurements.
- Bone mineral content — included alongside the body composition measurements, giving an indication of skeletal mass.
- Limb symmetry — useful for athletes, people recovering from injury, or anyone training unilaterally, with a Limb Symmetry Index comparing left and right sides.
- Resting metabolic rate estimate — derived from your lean mass, helping guide calorie targets for fat loss, maintenance, or muscle gain.
- Tracking over time — repeat scans let you see whether weight changes reflect fat loss, muscle gain, or unwanted muscle loss — something scales simply cannot distinguish.
Unlike bioimpedance (BIA) scales, which estimate composition using electrical currents and hydration-sensitive algorithms, DEXA uses two low-dose X-ray beams to directly measure tissue composition. It is the clinical gold standard used in research, sports science, and metabolic medicine.
It assesses bone mineral density (BMD) to identify osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fracture risk.
All scans are carried out by trained radiographers at 3Beam Diagnostic Imaging Centre, at 86 Harley Street, London, W1G 7HP.
- Bone density scans are diagnostic and reported by UK consultant rheumatologists at Medica.
- Body composition scans are advisory and delivered in a patient-friendly informational PDF report.
DEXA London is at 3Beam Diagnostic Imaging Centre, 86 Harley Street, Marylebone, London W1G 7HP. The clinic is at the northern end of Harley Street. Regent’s Park station is the closest on the Bakerloo line, with Great Portland Street, Oxford Circus, Bond Street and Baker Street all within walking distance. Marylebone and Euston mainline stations are a short bus or taxi ride away.
You can, but Harley Street sits inside both the Congestion Charge zone and the Ultra Low Emission Zone, so please check what you owe before you travel. Paid on-street parking is available on Harley Street and the surrounding roads, and there are several car parks a short walk away around Cavendish Square.
The scan itself takes around 10 minutes. Allow a little longer for your arrival, paperwork and a chance to ask questions. You will change into a hospital gown and lie on an open table while the scanning arm passes over you. There is nothing enclosed and nothing uncomfortable.
Body composition results are returned the same day as a patient-friendly PDF report. Bone density scans are diagnostic and reported by UK consultant rheumatologists at Medica, then emailed to you and shareable with your GP.
Yes. Many patients book the body composition and bone density scans together to get a complete picture of both metabolic and skeletal health in a single visit. Both scans together are discounted to £250 instead of £300.
