When it comes to understanding our health and lifespan, it isn’t enough to only look at weight or body fat. For Peter Attia—one of the most recognized experts in longevity and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity (with over two million copies sold)—it is crucial to gain a more detailed picture of your body. A Dexa scan is the best way to get that insight.
Attia believes that everyone should get a Dexa scan because it gives you important information on three key areas: bone density, muscle mass and visceral fat that really reveal your long-term health.
What can a Dexa scan show you?
A Dexa scan gives you an accurate measurement of your body composition—not just your body fat percentage, but also how much muscle mass you have and how healthy your bones are. This means you get a much clearer picture of your physical health than you would from a simple weight measurement. One of the most important measurements provided by a Dexa scan is your ALMI (appendicular lean mass index), which shows the amount of lean muscle in your arms and legs. Attia recommends that you aim to be at or above the 75th percentile for ALMI. This is a strong indicator of both your physical fitness and overall health, as muscle mass reflects how effectively you train and build strength.
Muscle mass and its importance for your health
While having muscle mass is important, it’s not the muscle mass itself that makes the biggest difference. According to Attia, it’s the effort you put into building muscle—and how that effort improves your metabolism—that truly matters.
Muscle mass and strength are closely linked to your overall health. They greatly affect your ability to burn calories, manage blood sugar, and maintain a healthy body. By building muscle mass through training, you not only improve your strength but also boost your metabolic function, which ultimately has a positive impact on your lifespan.
Strength is more important than muscle mass for your longevity
Peter Attia emphasizes that when it comes to longevity, strength is more important than sheer muscle mass. Being strong is a better indicator of a long life than having large muscles. Nevertheless, building both muscle mass and strength remains crucial for your long-term health and functional capacity.
How a Dexa scan can help you
A Dexa scan provides a clear picture of your muscle mass, fat, and bone density. This knowledge allows you to adjust your training, diet, and lifestyle to achieve the best health outcomes.
To ensure you’re on the right path to optimizing your health and lifespan, you should have regular Dexa scans. That way, you can monitor your progress, gain insight into your physical condition, and adjust your lifestyle based on actual data—not just speculation.
Book your Dexa scan appointment here
Source:
What a DEXA can show you about longevity | Peter Attia
