DEXA Scans for GLP-1 Users: Track Muscle, Not Just Weight.
Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy help you lose weight — but up to 40% of that loss can be muscle. A DEXA scan shows exactly what you're losing, so you and your doctor can protect what matters.
Ted lost 20 pounds on Wegovy. Turns out 12 of it was muscle.
- Ted, Austin TX
Ted came to Nomad after three months on Wegovy. He felt lighter - but something felt off. His DEXA baseline revealed the truth: of the 20 lbs he'd lost, 12 were lean muscle mass. His doctor used the report to adjust his protein targets and add resistance training. At his 8-week retest, the numbers flipped: 6 lbs of fat lost, 2 lbs of muscle gained. Same medication. Completely different outcome.
01 / Why Muscle Loss Happens
GLP-1 medications suppress appetite significantly. Without intentional protein intake and resistance training, your body burns both fat AND muscle for energy. DEXA quantifies exactly how much of each — so you're not guessing.
02 / The Baseline + Retest Cadence
Scan before you start your medication to establish your true lean mass baseline. Retest monthly for the first 3 months to track whether your protocol is preserving muscle. Most patients do multiple scans over their first year on GLP-1s.
03 / What the Report Shows
Your DEXA report breaks down fat mass vs. lean mass by region: arms, legs, trunk, android/gynoid zones. You'll see your visceral fat score, bone density, and a side-by-side comparison to your prior scan — all in a shareable PDF.
Retest Cadence Timeline
- BaselineScan 1 / Pre-medication
- MonthlyFor first 3 Months
- 12–16 weeks+As needed
- OngoingMaintenance
What You'll See in Your Report
- Fat Mass vs. Lean Mass breakdown
- Regional Body Composition (arms, legs, trunk)
- Visceral Fat Score
- Bone Density (BMD)
- Android/Gynoid Fat Ratio
- Side-by-side comparison to prior scan
- Shareable PDF for your physician
A Note on Medical Advice
Nomad Fit Lab is not a medical provider. We provide body composition data — not diagnoses, treatment plans, or medical guidance. All DEXA results should be reviewed with your physician or registered dietitian. Our scans are a tool to inform the conversations you're already having with your care team — not to replace them.
DEXA Insights for GLP-1
Everything we've written about GLP-1s, muscle preservation, and body composition tracking.
The Surprising Role Fat Plays in Muscle and Bone Health
A Smarter Return to Play: The Role of DEXA Scans in Injury Recovery
HUME Body Pod vs DEXA Scan
A Day in the Nomad Life: The Phoenix Marathon Expo
Ready to know your numbers?
Nomad Fit Lab is a mobile DEXA scan lab serving Western Washington and Greater Phoenix. We bring gold-standard body composition scans directly to your gym or neighborhood. The scan measures bone density, lean muscle mass by region, body fat percentage, visceral fat, and resting metabolic rate. From $39.95, under 15 minutes, with results in your inbox the same day.