07/09/2026
A few days ago, I shared a post about DEXA results, and so many of you asked me to explain the numbers in a little more detail. So, here is the follow-up using my own DEXA results as an example. 🤍
One thing I always want people to remember is that DEXA reports can look a bit intimidating at first — lots of numbers, abbreviations and scores — but the basic idea is actually quite simple.
I am 66, so, what do my numbers mean?
🦴 My T-scores were:
• Left femoral neck: −0.5
• Total left femur: −0.5
• Lumbar spine (L1–L4): −0.9
A T-score tells us how someone’s bone mineral density compares with the average bone density of a healthy young-adult reference population.
A score of 0 is around that reference average. A negative number means the measurement is below that reference average, and a positive number means it’s above it.
Importantly, my scores are nowhere near the −2.5 threshold used in osteoporosis classification in the appropriate populations, and my report classified my BMD as normal.
Then we have the Z-score.
🦴 My Z-scores were:
• Left femoral neck: +1.4
• Total left femur: +0.7
• Lumbar spine: +0.7
A Z-score compares bone density with an age-matched reference population. So a positive Z-score means my bone density is above that reference average.
In other words, my results were reassuring: normal BMD, T-scores between −0.5 and −0.9, and Z-scores between +0.7 and +1.4.
But — and this is really important — bone density is only one part of fracture risk. Your doctor would also consider things like age, previous fractures, medications, medical conditions and other risk factors. A DEXA result should never be interpreted in isolation.
And one final point: T- and Z-score interpretation depends on the person and their clinical context, so please don’t compare your numbers directly with mine and assume they mean the same thing for you.
I hope seeing a real-life example makes your own DEXA report feel a little less confusing. ❤️
Save this post for the next time you see a T-score or Z-score and think, “What on earth does that mean?” 😅
