Why You Should Never Get a DEXA Scan in a Mobile Van
Mobile DEXA Scans Sound Convenient, But Are They Accurate?
Accuracy & Reliability at Risk:
DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scans are widely regarded as the gold standard for body composition analysis, including bone density, lean muscle mass, fat percentage, and visceral fat measurement. But not all DEXA scans are created equal.
Recently, mobile DEXA scan vans have popped up, offering the convenience of bringing the scanner to different locations. However, industry experts and DEXA manufacturers have made it clear: mobile DEXA scans cannot be trusted.
From misalignment issues to lack of reproducibility, a mobile DEXA scan can lead to incorrect data that misinforms your health and fitness decisions. Here’s why you should never rely on a DEXA scan done in a mobile van.
1. Mobile DEXA Scans Are Frequently Misaligned, Leading to Inaccurate Results
DEXA scanners require a completely level, stable surface to provide accurate and reproducible results. Even small shifts or vibrations can throw off the readings, resulting in false data about your body composition.
What Our DEXA Engineer Says About Mobile Scanners
A DEXA calibration engineer who services both stationary and mobile scanners reported that Mobile scanners can not be frequently recalibrated enough for the abuse they take.
🔧 His words:
"I’m sent to calibrate DEXA machines in mobile vans, and they are always in terrible alignment. It takes me hours to fix the calibration—only to watch the van bump away down the road, undoing all my work."
The simple fact is this: DEXA scanners were never designed to be moved once calibrated.
The Reality of DEXA Calibration
Our stationary DEXA scanner—which never moves—still takes hours to level and calibrate properly to ensure medical-grade accuracy.
Mobile vans, constantly in motion, experience road vibrations, potholes, and temperature changes that throw off alignment and accuracy.
Even if a mobile scanner is calibrated in the morning, by the afternoon, it’s already misaligned again.
📢 DEXA manufacturers have publicly stated that they CANNOT support the validity of scans done in a mobile van.
🚨 Bottom Line: If a DEXA scan is not perfectly level and calibrated, the results are compromised—meaning the fat, muscle, and bone data you receive cannot be trusted.
2. Mobile DEXA Scans Cannot Provide Consistent Long-Term Tracking
One of the biggest benefits of a DEXA scan is its ability to track long-term changes in body composition. Whether you’re:
✅ Tracking fat loss and muscle gain
✅ Monitoring bone density over time
✅ Checking for visceral fat reduction
👉 You need each scan to be performed under the exact same conditions for reliable comparison.
Why Mobile DEXA Scans Are Useless for Long-Term Tracking
Mobile DEXA vans move from location to location, meaning:
❌ The scanner shifts in transit, affecting alignment.
❌ There’s no standardization in machine positioning from one scan to the next.
❌ Calibration drifts due to movement and temperature changes.
👎 Even if you go back to the same mobile provider for another scan, the conditions will not be identical. This renders your comparison data unreliable, making it impossible to accurately track progress over time.
📢 A scan that isn’t reproducible is worthless. If you can’t trust the numbers, what’s the point of getting a scan in the first place?
🚨 Bottom Line: If you want to track progress with true scientific precision, your DEXA scans must be conducted in a stationary, controlled environment—not a moving vehicle.
Final Thoughts: Choose a Trusted, Stationary DEXA Facility
DEXA scans are a powerful tool for optimizing health and performance—but only if they are done correctly.
🔹 Mobile DEXA scans are unreliable due to constant misalignment and calibration issues.
🔹 Even DEXA engineers struggle to keep mobile scanners properly calibrated, making their data questionable at best.
🔹 DEXA manufacturers do not support the validity of mobile scans, reinforcing that they should not be trusted.
After researching and looking into this we made the decision that we would never implement mobile DEXA.
Any company that does, without being clear that you are sacrificing quality for convenience is misleading you, and you should not put your trust or health in their hands.
At DexaFit Seattle, we never compromise on accuracy. Our stationary, expertly calibrated DEXA scanner ensures precision, consistency, and reproducibility—giving you the real data you need to optimize your health.
📍 Book your professional DEXA scan today and get results you can trust!
