Why a DEXA Scan Could Be Your Best Friend for Bone Health

Why a DEXA Scan Could Be Your Best Friend for Bone Health

By Dr. Michelle Parsons, M.D.

Aesthetic and Functional Medicine Physician

Why Bone Density Matters

I wasn't always a "botox" doctor. Before establishing my own practice in Rehoboth Beach, I worked in emergency departments across Delmarva, including Christiana Care, University of Maryland Eastern Shore hospitals, and former Peninsula Regional Medical Center. I enjoyed these experiences, meeting the wonderful local people and caring for them. One common medical emergency I frequently encountered in the emergency departments was bone fractures due to osteoporosis. The most severe case I witnessed was during my residency at what was then Wilmington Hospital. A very elegant lady came in with a vertebral fracture, seated in a wheelchair. As she attempted to lift herself from the wheelchair using the handles, she fractured her arm bone from the mere strain of lifting her own frail body weight. That incident made me realize how devastating osteoporosis can be.

Getting a DEXA is easy!

Fast forward a few decades, and osteoporosis, which hadn't been a major concern for me for quite some time, has once again become a priority. My friendly neighborhood physician last ordered a bone density test, known as a DEXA scan, for me in 2018. The results were completely normal, so I didn't think about my bone density again—until now. My personal physician suggested I have another test, and the results were shocking. I had experienced an 18% loss of bone density over the past seven years! I couldn't believe it. I take my vitamin D religiously, but I haven't been taking my calcium. I practice Tai Chi, but I stopped my strength training exercises. Even though I advise all my patients to ensure they're getting enough protein, I probably don't consume enough myself. I could do better. I definitely could do better.

Why Protein? Protein is A Key Bone Protector

Protein isn’t just for muscles — it’s the framework for bone. Bones are 50% protein by volume. Without enough protein:

• Your body makes less collagen, the scaffold that minerals attach to.

• Muscle mass shrinks, reducing bone-strengthening forces.

• Calcium absorption decreases.

During weight loss, especially with reduced appetite from semaglutide, protein needs often increase, not decrease. Most adults benefit from 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day, and more if lifting weights.

Bone Loss Happen Silently

Bone loss happens silently — you can feel strong and healthy, yet be losing bone mass every year without realizing it. The first sign for many people is a fracture from a minor fall. A DEXA scan (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) measures bone mineral density (BMD) at key sites like your spine and hips. It gives a T-score that compares you to a healthy young adult, and a Z-score that compares you to someone your age and sex.

When to Get a DEXA Scan

Although many guidelines won't recommend that patients get a DEXA scan until age 65 for women and age 70 for men, if you are at all concerned and want to check your baseline to be more preventative minded, I suggest if you are over 50, get one now. It may be normal, and that is great, but you also want to watch out for trends, so you can take measure now to prevent any abnormal decrease in your bone mineral density. You can't improve what you don't measure!

How to Prevent Bone Loss

1. Start by getting your DEXA scan. Ask your physician to order this test for you. Even if the DEXA scan is not covered by your insurance, the test is not terribly expensive.

2. Take vitamin D in the form of D3. We recommend the equivalent of 50,000 iu once weekly, or 5,000iu daily. It is also important to take a good Bone Mineral supplement that would include calcium, magnesium, boron and zinc.

3. Exercise. Yep, plain old walking is helpful! So is any balance training exercise, like tai chi, to prevent falling; and strength training, as it is the muscles that are attached to our bones that keep the bones healthy from the pulling of the muscles on the attached bones. And if you can't go to a gym, then doing pushup and squats at home can be all you need to maintain strength!

4. Adequate protein intake. If you just can't eat any more chicken than you already do, then a protein supplement in the form of a shake is a good idea, maybe 2-3 times a week.

The Semaglutide Connection

Many people, including some of my patients, use GLP-1 medications like semaglutide for weight loss. These drugs can be effective, but rapid weight loss changes the load your bones carry. When you lose 40 pounds quickly, your bones adapt to the lighter weight by reducing density. You can also lose muscle mass if you aren’t doing enough resistance training and eating enough protein — which further reduces the stimulus for bone maintenance.

Takeaway

A DEXA scan isn’t just for people who already have osteoporosis — it’s a prevention tool. If you’re losing weight, especially with medications like semaglutide, then definitely take steps to protect your bones now.

Your bones are for life. Protect them now, and they’ll protect you later.

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If you have questions about this article and would like to learn more, give us call, we'd love to hear from you! We can make recommendations for bone mineral supplements and protein and collagen supplements.

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Get YOUR treatments from the best doctor in town with the most experience who cares about your results. Our Doctor is the Difference! Dr. Michelle Parsons, M.D.

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Get YOUR treatments from the best doctor in town with the most experience who cares about your results. Our Doctor is the Difference! Dr. Michelle Parsons, M.D.

We at Renove Medical Spa want you to look and feel your best. So come to the first and best Medical Spa in Sussex County, Delaware, the office of Dr. Michelle Parsons, M.D. All treatments are performed or supervised by Dr. Michelle Parsons, M.D., who is a top aesthetic physician in the U.S. with BellaDiamond and Platinum Plus awards. If you want the best results, go to the best doctor in town, because you are worth it! Visit us in historic downtown Rehoboth Beach, with patient parking always available just for you. Call to schedule a complimentary consultation to see if we can offer something that is right for you, 302-227-1079 or book a consultation or treatment online at Renove Med Spa | Service Menu (booker.com). Reclaim, Restore, Renove.

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