Is an InBody Scan Safe? No Radiation, With Exceptions

An InBody scan is generally considered safe for most healthy adults because it uses a very small electrical current instead of radiation, but people with an implanted electronic device such as a pacemaker, or who are pregnant, should talk to their physician before scanning. A coach is not a clinician and will not clear you; they will ask the screening questions below and skip the scan if the answer is unclear. The free scan in a free consultation at FlexWerk is always optional.

What the machine puts into your body

Nothing is injected, swallowed or beamed in. The device passes a faint alternating signal between electrodes in the handles and footplates, and measures how much of it comes through. You will not feel it. There is no heat, no tingling, and no recovery time, and the whole scan takes about a minute. The explanation of the mechanism is in how an InBody scan works.

How it compares with scans that use X-rays

X-ray based body scans, such as DEXA, pass low-dose radiation through the body and are performed under clinical supervision, usually after an order or at an imaging facility. An InBody involves no radiation at all, which is why it can be repeated every few weeks without a dose to count. The other differences, such as cost, convenience and accuracy, are laid out in InBody versus DEXA. Either method may be right for a given person, and your physician is the one to say which.

Who is commonly told to skip it or ask first

Guidance from the manufacturer and from clinicians in this area typically names a short list. Use this if-then list as a screening aid, not a verdict:

• If you have a pacemaker, a defibrillator or another implanted electronic device, do not scan until your physician approves.
• If you are pregnant, ask your obstetric clinician before scanning, and know that tracking can use other tools.
• If you have significant swelling, a kidney, heart or liver condition, or take medication that changes fluid balance, ask your physician, because the readings will not represent you in the usual way.
• If you have metal joints or other implants, mention it to your clinician and the coach, since the effect on readings is a question for them.
• If you feel unwell, feverish or dizzy on the day, reschedule.

Questions to ask your physician first

Bring this short list to a regular appointment if any item above applies:

1. Is a body composition scan that uses a small electrical current appropriate for me?
2. Do I have an implanted device or a condition that makes impedance scanning unwise?
3. Would you prefer a different way for me to track progress?
4. Should my exercise plan wait until you have reviewed something?
5. What readings or symptoms should I report to you right away?

What a coach does and does not do

A coach asks the screening questions, explains what the scan does, and lets you opt out without any pressure. A coach does not decide whether it is medically safe for you, does not interpret results as health findings, and does not talk you out of your clinician’s advice. If you decline, tracking by strength, tape measurements and photos works well, and the photos versus scans comparison shows how.

Before your scan day

If you are cleared and want to scan, follow the preparation checklist so the number is a fair one. If you are not sure, start by asking your physician, then tell the coach what they said when you arrive.