Something exciting has happened behind the scenes at BodyScan. When the new management took over in March this year, we made an important upgrade that enhances every client’s experience and delivers even greater accuracy in your results.
We applied the Hologic Classic Calibration to every scan we’ve ever carried out, as well as to all future reports. This is the global gold standard for body composition measurement, trusted by medical researchers, elite sports teams and clinical institutions around the world.
It means that your results are now sharper, and more scientifically aligned than ever before. Whether your goal is fat loss, improved performance or better long-term health, your scan now provides a truer picture of what is really happening inside your body.
The NHANES Calibration: A Shift in the Numbers
In the early 2000s, Hologic introduced an alternative calibration based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States. The goal was to make DEXA results comparable with population-level research data.
The NHANES calibration applied a small mathematical adjustment that reduced lean mass readings by approximately 5%. This in turn made body fat percentages appear 3 - 5% higher than the Classic Calibration.
While the change was well-intentioned, later studies revealed that the NHANES calibration tended to overestimate fat levels, particularly in leaner or athletic individuals. When compared with the gold-standard four-compartment model, NHANES readings showed less accuracy than the Classic approach.
Why Classic Calibration is the Most Accurate
Multiple independent studies have since confirmed that the Classic Calibration provides the closest agreement to the four-compartment model, which is widely recognised as the most precise method for assessing human body composition.
In simple terms, the Classic Calibration gives a truer reflection of how much of your body is made up of fat, lean mass, and bone. It avoids the systematic overestimation of body fat that was seen in the NHANES calibration, especially among people with higher levels of muscle mass.
The scientific consensus is clear. The Classic Calibration delivers the most accurate, consistent, and physiologically meaningful results.
What the Classic Calibration Means
To understand the impact of this change, it helps to know a little about calibration. A DEXA scan works by sending two low-dose X-rays through your body to measure fat, lean tissue and bone. The scanner uses calibration standards to decide how to interpret those signals, effectively setting the reference points for what counts as “fat” and what counts as “lean”.
The Classic Calibration is the most scientifically validated method available. Developed by Hologic, the world leader in DEXA technology, it defines these standards using natural biological materials that closely match the characteristics of human tissue.
By using Classic Calibration, every BodyScan report reflects a true picture of your body composition. It produces results that are more consistent with laboratory gold-standard measurements such as the four-compartment (4C) model, which is widely considered the most accurate in existence.
How Classic Calibration Works
The Classic Calibration is based on two physical standards: stearic acid, which represents pure fat, and saline water, which represents lean tissue. These materials were chosen because they closely mimic the way X-rays interact with human fat and muscle.
By anchoring the calibration to these biological references, Hologic created a system that produces highly reproducible and realistic results. Each DEXA scanner is then factory-calibrated using these standards, ensuring accuracy and consistency across every device.
This attention to detail makes the Classic Calibration the most trusted method for scientific research, athletic performance analysis and clinical diagnostics.
Why We Made the Change
When we took over BodyScan earlier this year, one of our first priorities was to review every aspect of the service to ensure we were offering the very best possible experience. We knew that Hologic’s Classic Calibration was the superior method for body composition analysis, and we made the decision to apply it retrospectively to all existing past reports.
This means that your previous scans and your future ones now sit on the same precise scale, ensuring consistency across your results and making progress tracking more meaningful.
The Classic Calibration produces results that align more closely with the latest scientific models, and it gives every client a more accurate understanding of fat and lean mass. It was the right choice for our customers, and we are proud to have implemented it.
Sharper Accuracy. Clearer Insight. More Value.
For our clients, this upgrade has real benefits. Your results now reflect your body composition with greater precision than ever before. The Classic Calibration fine-tunes how your lean mass and fat mass are measured, giving you a more realistic representation of your current state and progress.
Consistency Across All Scans
One of the biggest advantages of this change is that it ensures every scan is now directly comparable. Whether you were scanned last week or years ago, all your reports are now based on the same gold-standard classic calibration.
That means when you compare your progress over time, you are seeing a completely consistent and scientifically standardised measure of change. Your journey is now tracked using one unified system, giving you confidence that every result truly reflects what is happening in your body.
This consistency is crucial for anyone using DEXA data to guide training, nutrition or health interventions. It ensures that when your results show improvement, that progress is real and measurable.
The Science Behind the Gold Standard
Hologic’s Classic Calibration has been extensively validated against multiple research methods, including underwater weighing, deuterium dilution and the four-compartment model. Across all comparisons, the Classic Calibration has demonstrated exceptional agreement with these laboratory benchmarks.
By contrast, other calibration methods, such as the NHANES setting used in some systems, tend to overestimate body fat, particularly in lean individuals. This means that Classic Calibration provides not only greater accuracy but also fairer and more realistic readings for people at every stage of their fitness journey.
Better Data Means Better Decisions
At BodyScan, we believe knowledge is power. Your DEXA scan gives you data that can shape how you eat, train and recover. With the Classic Calibration in place, that data is now even more valuable.
Every number in your report is refined to reflect your true body composition, which means you can make smarter, more confident decisions about your health and fitness.
If you are tracking fat loss, your progress is now measured with greater precision.
If you are building lean mass, you can trust that every gram of gain is being recorded accurately.
If you are monitoring your health, your data now aligns with the most advanced scientific standards available.
This upgrade strengthens the link between your scan results and your real-world progress.
Enhancing the BodyComp Pro Experience
Our exclusive BodyComp Pro reports already provide the most detailed and insightful body composition analysis in the UK. They take the information from your DEXA scan and translate it into a comprehensive picture of your health, performance and potential.
With the Classic Calibration applied, your BodyComp Pro report becomes even more powerful. The improved accuracy of fat and lean mass readings enhances every metric in your report, from segmental analysis to fat distribution patterns.
You will see even clearer insights into how your body is changing over time, helping you to fine-tune your training, nutrition and recovery strategies.
It is the ultimate upgrade for anyone serious about measurable, data-driven progress.
A Win for Every Client
We are proud that this improvement benefits every BodyScan client, past and present. By applying the Classic Calibration to all historic scans, we have ensured that no one is left behind. Your existing data has been re-analysed using the new standard, so your entire scan history now aligns perfectly with the upgraded system.
This gives you a consistent, accurate and fair view of your long-term progress, no matter when your first scan took place.
It is part of our ongoing commitment to putting customers first and ensuring that every person who walks through our doors receives the most advanced, reliable and valuable insight possible.
Our Commitment to Continuous Improvement
The introduction of Classic Calibration reflects our broader mission to deliver excellence in every part of our service. Since taking over in March, we have been reviewing and refining every process to ensure that BodyScan remains at the forefront of precision body composition analysis.
From our expert consultations to our exclusive BodyComp Pro reports, every detail is designed to give you confidence, clarity and motivation to reach your goals.
By implementing the Classic Calibration, we have aligned our technology with the highest global standards. It is another example of our promise to continuously improve and to give our clients access to the best tools in the industry.
The Future of Body Composition Analysis
We are proud to lead the way in Body Composition analysis in the UK, combining cutting-edge technology with expert interpretation and a customer-first approach.
Your DEXA results are now more powerful than ever. They tell a deeper story, one that reflects the truth of your body with clarity and precision.
Teamed with our BodyComp Pro reports, expert consultations, there has never been a better time to start or continue your journey with BodyScan.
Since taking over BodyScan, we have been committed to raising standards and enhancing every client’s experience. The switch to Hologic’s Classic Calibration is one of the most important improvements we have made.
It delivers more accurate, consistent and meaningful results across every scan, ensuring that your progress is measured against the true scientific gold standard.
Every report, every insight and every recommendation you receive from BodyScan is now sharper, clearer and more powerful than ever.
This upgrade represents more than a technical change. It is a reflection of our passion for precision, our commitment to quality and our belief that everyone deserves the very best data to achieve their goals.
If you would like to view your previous reports under the new calibration, simply log in to your BodyScan account or contact us and our team will assist you.
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BodyScan UK: Because your body deserves the gold standard.