Hydro tank vs DEXA scan for BF testing

lorrpb

What are the benefits of getting body fat tested in a hydro tank vs DEXA scan? Does it make sense to do both? A mobile outfit is coming near me and they offer a DEXA scan as a add on to the hydro tank for a lower fee than getting one done alone. Just wondering if I'd get more info or something with the DEXA add on?
I've never had body fat tested before, am approaching my maintenance weight after losing 145+, and would be doing it for curiosity as much as anything. I checked BF on my trainer's smart scale recently and he thinks I'm less than what the scale said, I know they're not reliable.

sgt1372

Do one or the other. No need to do both, unless you just want to compare the results.

Hydrostatic testing use to be the so-called "gold standard" for body fat mesurement but has been supplanted by DEXA, but still provides very accurate results.

I've had myself hydro tested many times. The advantage is that it's usually cheaper than DEXA but you have to get wet to do it and results may vary if you cannot expell enough air from your lungs consistently.

The advantage of DEXA is that you don't have to get wet and hold/expell your breathe under water AND You get a differential assessment of your BF & LBM overall as well as by major body parts. You only get an overall assessment w/hydro testing.

The disadvantage of DEXA is that it's usually more expensive than hydro - - as much as 2-3x's more - - and tends to give higher BF readings than hydro.

However, if cost is equal, I'd give the nod to DEXA for the convenience and more specific data. In fact, I'm getting my 1st DEXA scan in a week at a place that only charges $40-45/scan which is the same as I was paying for hydro.

Packerjohn

sgt1372 wrote: »

Do one or the other. No need to do both, unless you just want to compare the results.


I've had myself hydro tested many times. The advantage is that it's usually cheaper than DEXA but you have to get wet to do it and results may vary if you cannot expell enough air from your lungs consistently.

Yep, I'm not real comfortable in water and couldn't expel the air very well, think I was measuring 50% BF at 6'2" 200 lbs and lifting weights.

lorrpb

I think they're the same price.

sgt1372

lorrpb wrote: »

I think they're the same price.

There's another place in my area called DexaFit (a franchise) which charges $150 for a scan. The place I'm going to is a mobile operation working out of a parking lot that only charges $45 (less if you prepay for multiple scan). The hydro testing outfit that I've used is also a mobile operstion. Cuts the cost of operation substantially.

I believe the medical screening offices which use DEXA mainly for bone density testing (which it was designed for) charge as much or more than DexaFit largely because the scans are paid for and reimbursed by medical insurance carriers.

So, it pays to shop around.

lorrpb

sgt1372 wrote: »

lorrpb wrote: »

I think they're the same price.

There's another place in my area called DexaFit (a franchise) which charges $150 for a scan. The place I'm going to is a mobile operation working out of a parking lot that only charges $45 (less if you prepay for multiple scan). The hydro testing outfit that I've used is also a mobile operstion. Cuts the cost of operation substantially.

I believe the medical screening offices which use DEXA mainly for bone density testing (which it was designed for) charge as much or more than DexaFit largely because the scans are paid for and reimbursed by medical insurance carriers.

So, it pays to shop around.

This sounds like the set up coming to my area. Does the report for this type of scan also give bone density results?

tfknoll

Bodyspec.com

$45 Dexa. Sample reports on their website.

They have a storefront in Santa Monica. I've used them for five scans so far.

sgt1372

tfknoll wrote: »

Bodyspec.com

$45 Dexa. Sample reports on their website.

They have a storefront in Santa Monica. I've used them for five scans so far.

Yeah, that's the company I signed up w/at their location in SF near The Embarcadero. Getting the scan done in a week. Only prepaid for 1 scan to see if I like the service. If I do, I'll probably sign up for 2 more for $80 each the next time around.

runningforthetrain

bump

sgt1372

"sgt1372 wrote: »

Only prepaid for 1 scan to see if I like the service. If I do, I'll probably sign up for 2 more for $80 each the next time around.

Correction:

If I like the service, I'll probably sign up for 2 more scans for $80 (or $40 each) the next time.