Strong Bones, Strong Body: Why We Use DEXA, EchoLight, and InBody Together

When most people think about their health, they focus on cholesterol numbers, blood pressure, or maybe the number on the scale. But two of the most overlooked keys to lifelong vitality are bone strength and body composition, including muscle mass and fat distribution.

Bone strength is critical for preventing fractures and maintaining independence as we age, while healthy muscle mass is a powerful predictor of mobility, metabolic health, and longevity. Losing muscle as we age, a process called sarcopenia, increases the risk of falls, frailty, insulin resistance, and chronic disease. Meanwhile, excess visceral fat contributes to inflammation and increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions.

At Nova Wellness, we go beyond surface-level measurements. We use a trio of cutting-edge tools — DEXA, EchoLight, and InBody — to create a complete, precise picture of your bone health and body composition. Together, they help us design a truly personalized plan to keep you strong, active, and resilient at every stage of life.

The Foundation: DEXA

What it is:
DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) is considered the gold standard for measuring bone mineral density and body composition.

Why it matters:
Bone loss can begin as early as our 30s and often accelerates with hormonal changes, especially during perimenopause and menopause in women and with age-related hormone decline in men.

Beyond bone health, DEXA provides detailed insights into body composition, including fat mass, lean mass, and visceral fat. Excess visceral fat is strongly linked to inflammation, insulin resistance, and increased risk for heart disease and metabolic disorders.

By understanding your true muscle-to-fat ratio and fat distribution, we can design highly targeted interventions to reduce overall body fat and dangerous visceral fat using advanced, cutting-edge strategies at Nova. This approach supports metabolic health, healthy aging, and helps you look and feel your best at every stage of life.

The Innovation: EchoLight

What it is:
EchoLight is an advanced ultrasound technology that assesses bone quality and strength without radiation. It is fast, non-invasive, and can be done in the office in just a few minutes.

Why it matters:
We brought EchoLight to Nova specifically to support women in the perimenopause and menopause transition, as well as those already diagnosed with osteoporosis and looking to reverse it. The menopause transition is one of the most critical windows for bone loss. Women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone density in the five to seven years after menopause due to falling estrogen levels, and most are never screened until much later or once a fracture has already occurred.

Traditional treatment approaches often rely on bisphosphonates, which do not improve bone quality and are generally limited to ten years of use due to safety concerns. These medications may slow further loss but do little to rebuild strong, resilient bone. Waiting until someone already has osteoporosis and then offering a limited, one-size-fits-all treatment is simply unacceptable.

EchoLight allows us to identify early changes and intervene before bones become fragile. It also helps us track progress for women actively working to restore bone strength through more advanced, integrative approaches. These include Nova’s hormone optimization, targeted nutrition and supplement support, resistance and strength training programs, and regenerative therapies designed to stimulate new bone formation and improve bone quality at a cellular level.

This is about more than numbers on a scan. Fractures, especially hip fractures, can be life-altering, leading to long-term disability, loss of independence, and a higher risk of mortality. With EchoLight, we are shifting the model from reactive to proactive, helping women stay strong, mobile, and independent for decades to come.

The Versatility: InBody

What it is:
InBody is a bioelectrical impedance analysis tool that provides a quick, detailed breakdown of body composition. It measures skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, visceral fat, and segmental (limb-by-limb) muscle balance.

Why it matters:
We brought InBody to Nova specifically for patients on weight loss, metabolic optimization, or body composition improvement journeys. Unlike DEXA and EchoLight, which are typically done every few months, InBody can be used every few weeks to provide regular feedback and keep you motivated and accountable. This frequent tracking allows us to make timely, targeted adjustments to your nutrition, training, and treatment plans so you stay on track and reach your goals with confidence.

Why All Three?

Each tool offers a unique lens on your health.
DEXA gives us the most precise bone mineral density and visceral fat measurements.
EchoLight allows for more frequent, convenient bone strength monitoring without radiation.
InBody provides dynamic, actionable insights into muscle and fat changes that we can check as often as every few weeks.

When combined, they create a comprehensive view of your structural and metabolic foundation. This allows us to personalize your nutrition, hormone, fitness, and supplementation strategies to help you maintain strong bones, build or preserve muscle, and stay metabolically resilient for decades to come.

Beyond the Numbers

These technologies are not just about data; they are about empowering you. Knowing your bone and muscle health status helps you take proactive steps today so you can continue to do what you love tomorrow. Whether that means running marathons in your 50s, playing tennis at 70, or traveling the world at 85, it starts with strong bones and a strong body.‍

Ready to truly understand your foundation? Let’s build your personalized bone and body composition plan together.