You are what you eat – Dexa scan stars in Netflix documentary

22. Nov, 2024 | Longevity

With the continuously rising obesity epidemic affecting the majority of the Western world’s population, there is an increasing focus on living longer and generally leading a healthier life. This phenomenon, known as “Longevity,” has recently been highlighted in Denmark, where more and more people are seeking to change their lifestyles to live longer. Danish media, for example, have focused on former TV host Emil Thorup’s lifestyle changes aimed at achieving a longer life.

In the US, nearly half of the population is severely overweight, and in Denmark, the Danish Health Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen) frequently issues warnings about our general obesity challenges. We are captivated with healthy living, and with the introduction of Wegovy, this interest has only intensified. The increased attention has led to a collaboration between Netflix and Stanford University Professor Christopher D. Gardner, resulting in the documentary series You Are What You Eat.

The series follows four pairs of identical twins, where each twin is assigned either a vegan or an omnivorous (all-eating) diet. Throughout the study, the impact of these two different diets on the participants’ physiques is documented.

The aim of the study was to identify the advantages and disadvantages of an omnivorous diet compared to a vegan diet across various health parameters. The study focused particularly on evaluating the effects of the diets on body composition, biological age, the microbiome, and the brain. Because these health aspects can be influenced by genetics, identical twins were chosen to minimize genetic influence on the results. Since identical twins share 100% of their DNA, any differences between them can be attributed to environmental factors, including the different diet plans each twin followed over the eight-week period.

The program discusses, among other things, why BMI is a poor health indicator, as it does not account for the ratio between fat and muscle in a person’s total mass. For example, athletes are often classified as overweight according to BMI because they have a high amount of lean mass.

To document the study, Professor Gardner and his co-authors used the most precise method available for measuring the distribution of fat and muscle in the body – DEXA scanning. The scan works by using very low-level X-rays to distinguish between fat, bone, and muscle. This allows the DEXA scan to provide an analysis of body fat percentage, muscle mass, visceral fat, and bone density. All of this information is incredibly valuable when making lifestyle changes and obtaining a more accurate picture of overall health.

You are what you eat - screenshot

The participants in the study underwent a DEXA scan both at the beginning and at the end of the investigation. The results were very interesting: most twins following the omnivorous diet gained more muscle mass compared to the twins on the vegan diet. However, all twins following the vegan diet reduced their organ (visceral) fat. This is an important measure of health, as visceral fat—the dangerous fat surrounding the organs—increases the risk of developing several chronic diseases. Overall, the study’s results show that lifestyle changes can affect body composition and overall health in just a few weeks.

If you are considering making a lifestyle change like the twins in You Are What You Eat, a DEXA scan is a fantastic first step to kickstart your journey toward a longer and healthier life.