DEXA Scans: The FDA-Approved Method for Measuring Visceral Fat

If you haven’t heard, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just cleared a major step forward in the fight against visceral fat. The agency recently granted approval for a global Phase 3 study of CBL-514, a belly fat melting drug expected to be the first on the market for the non-surgical reduction of problematic abdominal fat, also known as visceral fat.

Visceral fat is not the kind of fat you see in the mirror. It lies deep within your abdominal organs and can’t be seen from the outside. Visceral fat drives higher risks of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke when present in excess. As interest in new treatment options grows, accurate measurement becomes even more important.

That’s where DEXA scans come in.

How to Measure Visceral Fat

DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scans are an FDA-approved method for measuring visceral fat. DEXA scans are recognized as the most accurate, reliable, and authoritative measure for measuring body fat and lean muscle mass. They provide a detailed and accurate breakdown of your body composition, including the amount of visceral fat around your organs.

Research links having too much visceral fat to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Another study found that people with more belly fat and visceral fat had three times the risk for dementia including Alzheimer’s disease compared to people with the least belly fat. Studies have also shown a link between visceral fat and cancer, including colorectal cancer. Having more visceral fat has also been linked to insulin resistance, which comes with more risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Long story-short, there are a number of reasons to keep track of your visceral fat. Since you can’t see or feel visceral fat, you have to rely on other ways to keep tabs on it, like a DEXA scan.

How to Get Rid of Visceral Fat

CBL-514 is still wrapping up its clinical trials, but there are still a number of ways to combat visceral fat. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to lose visceral fat. You can lower your visceral fat level using the same methods that help you lose weight and lower your total body fat. A proper diet and regular exercise are important.

Getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol intake, and techniques for reducing stress can also help. The good news is that you don’t need a miracle drug to lose visceral fat. Start by getting an accurate baseline with a DEXA scan so that you can stay on top of your health and see what’s really going on inside.