Mito Exclusive

Introducing DEXA Scans at Mito: Body Composition and Bone Density, No Referral Needed

Mito now offers two DEXA scans: a whole-body scan of fat, lean muscle and visceral fat, and a hip and spine bone density scan. Order either one without a referral, in all 50 states and Washington, DC, and see your report in your Mito dashboard.

Published

October 5, 2026

Read time

6 min read

Medically reviewed by

Rhonda Collins, FNP-C

Share

Copy link

Mito now offers two DEXA scans. The DEXA Body Composition Scan measures your body fat, lean muscle and visceral fat, region by region. The new DEXA Bone Density Scan measures the bone density of your hip and spine, the sites guidelines use to check for osteoporosis. You can order either one without a referral, get scanned at a partner location, and see your report in your Mito dashboard next to your lab results.

Both scans are available in all 50 states and Washington, DC. Prices depend on the provider that serves your state:

Member prices come with the $9/month Mito membership. There is no separate draw, center, or order fee, and you can pay with your HSA or FSA card. You don’t need a membership to buy a scan.

What’s new

Until now, Mito’s body composition scan was booked at BodySpec studios in six states. With Fitnescity Health, you can now order it in every state and Washington, DC. The bone density scan is new to Mito and is booked through Fitnescity Health.

The DEXA Body Composition Scan

DEXA, short for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, passes two very low-dose X-ray beams over your body while you lie still on an open table. Fat, lean tissue and bone absorb the beams differently, so the scan can separate them and map where each one sits (RadiologyInfo).

Your report includes:

• Body fat percentage, for your whole body and for each arm, each leg and your trunk.
• Lean mass: muscle, organs and water, everything that isn’t fat or bone.
• A visceral fat estimate: the fat packed around your organs, the type most linked to insulin resistance and heart risk.
• A whole-body bone reading, as general context.

A scale reports only your total weight. A body composition scan is most useful when you’re changing your body and want to know what changed: losing weight, taking a GLP-1 medication, training for strength, or entering midlife, when muscle mass tends to decline. If your weight and habits are stable, one scan gives you a baseline to return to later. For a deeper look at what the numbers mean, read our guide to DEXA scans and body composition.

You can book it with either of two providers, and the product page shows which ones serve your state:

• Fitnescity Health books you into a partner facility, such as an imaging center, hospital, or longevity or performance clinic. After you buy, you choose a center and request a time from your Mito dashboard.
• BodySpec runs its own studios in California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas and Washington. After you buy, the Mito team reaches out with scheduling instructions, and your scan credit is valid for one year.

Different machines can give slightly different numbers, so rescan at the same location, on the same machine, to track change. Most people rescan every 3 to 6 months while they’re actively changing their body.

The DEXA Bone Density Scan

The bone density scan uses the same DEXA method, aimed at your hip and lower spine. Your result comes with two scores:

• T-score: how your bone density compares with a healthy young adult of your sex. It is used for postmenopausal women and men 50 and older. A T-score of -1.0 or above is normal, between -1.0 and -2.5 is low bone mass (osteopenia), and -2.5 or below is osteoporosis (NIAMS).
• Z-score: how your bone density compares with people your age and sex. It is used for premenopausal women and men under 50, and a Z-score of -2.0 or lower is below the expected range for your age (ISCD).

If you’re 40 or older, your report also includes your estimated chance of breaking a bone over the next 10 years. If your bone density is low, your report may include a link to book a physician follow-up call. A T-score isn’t a treatment plan: a clinician weighs it with your age, history and fracture risk.

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends osteoporosis screening for women 65 and older, and for postmenopausal women under 65 who are at increased risk of fracture. It found the evidence insufficient to make a recommendation for men (USPSTF). The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation also recommends testing for men 70 and older, women 50 to 64 and men 50 to 69 with risk factors, and anyone who breaks a bone after 50. If you’re not in a screening group yet, or don’t want to wait for a referral, a scan gives you a starting number to compare against in a few years.

Bone density is one part of bone health. Your body also needs vitamin D and calcium to build healthy bones, and a vitamin D blood test checks your level (MedlinePlus).

To read your report once it arrives, see our guide on how to read DEXA scan results.

Which scan is right for you?

Choose the body composition scan if you want to know your body fat, muscle and visceral fat. Its whole-body bone reading is useful context, but guidelines don’t use it to diagnose osteoporosis. Choose the bone density scan if you want to check your bones for osteoporosis or bone loss.

How it works

1. Order online. Answer a few short health questions and check out on Mito. No referral needed.
2. Book your time. For a Fitnescity Health scan, open your Mito dashboard, enter your ZIP code to find a nearby center, and pick two appointment times. The center confirms one, usually within hours. For a BodySpec scan, the Mito team sends you scheduling instructions.
3. Prepare. Don’t eat for 2 to 4 hours before, and drink water normally. Avoid intense exercise, saunas and steam rooms for 12 hours. Wear comfortable clothes with no metal or hard plastic, such as zippers, buttons, underwire or jewelry. Bring a photo ID, and tell the staff if you have metal in your body, such as a pin or a joint replacement.
4. Get scanned. You lie still on an open table while the scanner arm passes over you. There are no needles and no tunnel. A body composition scan takes about 10 minutes, and a bone density scan about 10 to 30 minutes.
5. Get your report. Your results land in your Mito dashboard, next to your labs. You can also book a consultation from your dashboard to go through them.

Both scans use a very low radiation dose. A body composition scan is a tiny fraction of a chest X-ray, less than a day of natural background radiation. A bone density scan is about a hundredth of a chest X-ray, roughly 3 hours of natural background radiation. Neither is done during pregnancy.

References

• RadiologyInfo: Bone Density Scan (DEXA, DXA)
• NIAMS: Bone Mineral Density Tests: What the Numbers Mean
• International Society for Clinical Densitometry: 2023 Official Positions
• US Preventive Services Task Force: Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: Screening
• Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation: Bone Density Exam/Testing
• MedlinePlus: Vitamin D Test

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a referral for a DEXA scan through Mito?

No. You order online. If a partner center requires a physician's order, it is arranged for you as part of booking, so you don't need to contact your own doctor.

Can I pay with my HSA or FSA?

Yes. Both DEXA scans are HSA/FSA eligible. Select "Pay with HSA/FSA" at checkout to pay with your HSA or FSA card.

How soon are DEXA results ready?

Fitnescity Health partner center reports usually arrive within 24 hours, and officially within 2 business days. BodySpec body composition results are usually ready the same day. Either way, your report lands in your Mito dashboard.

Does insurance cover these scans?

A body composition scan is elective, so insurance almost never covers it. A bone density test is often covered through your doctor if you meet screening criteria. Mito's bone density scan is the no-referral, fixed-price route for everyone else, or for anyone who wants it now.

Who should not book a DEXA scan?

You must be 18 or older. DEXA scans aren't done if you're pregnant or may be pregnant, or if you've recently had a barium or contrast exam. If you have metal implants, a physician reviews your health answers first.