DXA Body Composition Applications from Sarcopenia to Sport
DXA Body Composition Applications from Sarcopenia to Sport
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 1:30pm - 2:30pm Eastern Time (NY/USA)
Description and Objectives
This session will provide DXA technologists with a focused, practical framework for acquiring, analyzing, and reporting body composition data tailored to the needs of diverse clinical specialties. Participants will review primary DXA-derived body composition metrics—including appendicular lean mass (ALM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and fat mass index (FMI)—and learn how their clinical relevance differs across geriatrics, bariatrics, and sports medicine. The program will emphasize identification of the most appropriate body composition outputs for monitoring patient progress in metabolic risk assessment, eating disorder recovery, and athletic performance. In addition, the session will explore the clinical significance of regional versus total body composition measurements, enabling technologists to better support referring providers through accurate data acquisition, interpretation, and communication.
After attending this lecture, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate between the primary DXA metrics (such as ALM, VAT, and FMI) required by various specialties, including geriatrics, bariatrics, and sports medicine.
- Identify which body composition outputs are most relevant for tracking patient progress in metabolic risk assessment, eating disorder recovery, and athletic performance.
- Discuss the clinical significance of regional and total body composition data to better understand the diverse needs of referring providers.
Handouts
All speakers are requested to provide handouts/lecture slides for registered attendees. Those that are provided for this session will be uploaded to the handouts tab and can be accessed/downloaded from that tab.
Jonathan Bennett, PhD
Faculty, Department of Epidemiology
University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Jon Bennett, PhD, is faculty and Principal Investigator at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, where he studies how body composition and energy balance change across the lifespan, are associated with obesity, and relate to cancer risk and outcomes. His methodological work spans dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance, 3D optical imaging, multi-compartment models, doubly labeled water, indirect calorimetry, and stable isotope dilution, with a focus on Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other underrepresented populations. With Dr. John Shepherd, he co-leads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nutrition Collaborating Centre at UHCC, which supports body composition training and capacity building in low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Bennett chairs the ISCD Body Composition Course and is a DXA technical expert for the International Atomic Energy Agency.
ASRT Credit
This session is approved by ASRT for 1.00 Category A credits.