results interpreter
What your DEXA numbers actually mean
Your report prints a body-fat percentage and stops. This tool adds the missing context: your percentile against published NHANES reference data for your sex and age, your FFMI and ALMI with sourced formulas, and what the visceral-fat number means — rendered in the same tissue colors your report uses.
Last verified 2026-08-14
your composition, in report colors
22% body fat
higher than about 22% of men aged 34 in the NHANES reference data
▲ 22nd percentile for body fat
Bone segment drawn at a typical ~4% of body mass for the visual — your report's BMC line has your exact number. Percentile marker: your body-fat percentile for sex and age, computed with the LMS method of Kelly 2009 (NHANES 1999-2004; the paper's most-populated reference curves — details on the methodology page).
reference points for men aged 34
| Percentile | 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body fat % | 17.4 | 22.5 | 26.4 | 30.6 | 37.2 |
ffmi — fat-free mass index
Add weight and height above to compute FFMI — the muscle-for-height index lifters use.
almi — appendicular lean mass index
Add height plus the arms+legs lean mass from your report's regional table to compute ALMI.
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Educational context from published reference data, not medical advice — the methodology page documents every table and formula. Percentiles describe where a number sits in a population; they don't say what yours should be.
Common questions
Where do the percentiles come from?
From Kelly, Wilson & Heymsfield 2009 (PLoS ONE), the standard reference publication of NHANES 1999-2004 whole-body DXA data for US adults aged 20-85. We implement the paper's own LMS statistical method using its published parameters — the methodology page shows every value.
What numbers do I need from my report?
Only total body-fat percent is required — it's on the first page of every DEXA report. Optionally: your weight and height unlock FFMI; the sum of lean mass in both arms and both legs (from the regional table) unlocks ALMI; and the visceral fat area (VAT, in cm²) unlocks the visceral-fat context.
Is a high or low percentile good?
Percentiles describe, they don't grade. A lower body-fat percentile means leaner than more of the population, but 'the population' includes the full range of US adults — being 30th percentile is not a target, and chasing a number without context is how body-composition data gets misused. The guide on reading results covers healthy framing.
Why doesn't this tool read my bone-density results?
Deliberately. Bone-density interpretation is a medical read that belongs to your physician. This site covers the body-composition half of a DEXA report only.
Does my data leave my browser?
No. There's no server, no upload, and no email gate. The numbers exist in your browser tab, and in the URL only if you use the share button.
New to the report itself? Start with how to read DEXA results — or check what a scan costs if you haven't booked one yet.