Body composition
What Is a DEXA Scan and How Does It Measure Body Composition?
Two people can weigh the same and have completely different bodies. Here is how a DEXA scan tells them apart, in about seven minutes.
Weight loss is hard, especially when diet and exercise alone have not moved the number. GLP-1 therapy has become one of the most talked-about medical options for weight management. Here is how it works, what the benefits and side effects are, and what to expect if you start it at Prefusion Health.
What is GLP-1 weight loss therapy?
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone your body makes naturally. It plays a role in appetite, digestion and blood sugar. GLP-1 medications work in a similar way to this hormone, and they are prescribed to support weight management.
GLP-1 therapy is not a quick fix. It works best as part of a wider plan that includes nutrition, training and regular check-ins with a clinician.
How GLP-1 treatments work
Appetite and fullness
GLP-1 medications can help you feel full for longer, which makes it easier to eat less without relying on willpower alone.
Eating habits
With appetite under better control, many people find it easier to build consistent, sustainable eating habits.
Blood sugar
GLP-1 medications also act on the body's blood sugar regulation, which is part of overall metabolic health.
The benefits of GLP-1 therapy
- A structured, medical approach. Your plan is prescribed and adjusted by a clinician, not pulled from a generic program.
- Help with appetite and cravings. For many people, hunger is the hardest part of losing weight. GLP-1 therapy can make it more manageable.
- A plan that adjusts to you. Your goals, history and response all shape the plan, and it changes as you progress.
The part most programs miss: muscle
When weight comes off quickly, some of it can be muscle. The scale cannot tell you which, and losing muscle works against you: it slows your metabolism and makes the result harder to keep.
That is why every GLP-1 plan at Prefusion starts with a DEXA scan and is tracked with follow-up scans. You see exactly how much fat and how much muscle you are losing, and if the loss is not coming from fat, the plan is adjusted. Nutrition and protein targets are built to protect lean mass.
Common GLP-1 side effects
Like any medication, GLP-1 therapy can have side effects. The most commonly reported are:
- Nausea
- Digestive discomfort
- Changes in appetite
- Other gastrointestinal symptoms
Side effects vary from person to person and are often managed through dosing. Always discuss your health history and any concerns with your provider, who decides whether GLP-1 therapy is appropriate for you.
What to expect at Prefusion
- Start with a baseline. Every therapy at Prefusion begins with Therapy Entry: a provider consult, a DEXA scan and a full blood panel in one visit, for $199.
- A physician-managed plan. If GLP-1 therapy is right for you, a clinician prescribes it and manages dosing, side effects and titration.
- Track with DEXA. Follow-up scans confirm you are losing fat and holding muscle, and your plan is adjusted on your real data.
Prefusion also runs a 12-week low dose GLP-1 program for $299 a month, with a PA evaluation, two DEXA scans and check-ins at week 6 and week 12. You can read about it on the GLP-1 weight loss page.
Habits that support your results
- Eat enough protein. It is the single biggest lever for protecting muscle while you lose fat.
- Keep strength training. Muscle you use is muscle you keep.
- Follow your plan. Stick to the dosing and check-ins your provider sets.
- Measure, do not guess. Retest with DEXA so you know what is actually changing.
