Scanner helps fight osteoporosis, measures body fat

Mike Catausan, MD, family practice physician, rang in the New Year with a new piece of technology that will enhance his wellness services for patients.

“We’re excited about it,” he said. “It offers many new tools, new ways of measuring these objective parameters.

Catausan, of exclusiveMD, a concierge family practice in Leawood, Kan., installed a Lunar iDXA Scanner, which scans for osteoporosis and scoliosis and measures body fat and lean mass percentages. Catausan said the scanner offers patients one more tool promoting wellness and prevention, his practice’s focus.

“We’re a group of doctors that practices differently,” he said of concierge doctors. “We work for our patients. We don’t work for the insurance companies. We focus on preventative medicine.”

Catausan, who wants to help prevent heart disease, diabetes and obesity through wellness planning, said the scanner helps to identify another risk factor.

“Having more information to show a patient helps them make their own decisions,” he said. “We’re trying to change how people experience health care.”

Catausan said the iDXA Scanner rapidly calculates an individual’s fracture risk. After someone begins osteoporosis treatment it accurately monitors how that person is responding to various treatments. In addition, the scanner promotes a healthy body composition.

“From a health perspective, it’s important for individuals to know where they hold most of their fat, since those who carry fat around their stomachs are at higher risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease than are those who carry fat in the thigh region,” Catausan said.

According to his research osteoporosis is a major health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, resulting in more than 1 million hip, spine and wrist fractures annually. The disorder affects nearly one-half of all post-menopausal women, the largest group at high risk for osteoporosis. Catausan can measure bones’ mineral content and treat low bone, density advising patients to change their diet, exercise habits and medication to prevent further deterioration.

He said body composition measurements can also aid those who are working to lose weight by revealing fat lost and providing objective data that shows weight-loss patients and athletes how they’re progressing toward a goal of gaining muscle.

“Gone are the days of calories in and calories out,” Catausan said. “I have a complete medical weight loss program.”

The scanner has also helped to identify individuals, including many younger females, who are light in weight but have body compositions of up to 45 percent body fat.

“Once individuals have personal body composition information, they can change diet and exercise regimens to improve the ratio of muscle to fat,” Catausan said.

Catausan offers bone density and body composition testing to the community and his patients. Pricing starts at $150 per scan, with volume discounts available and discounts offered to exclusiveMD patients. Scans are painless and take five to 10 minutes, exposing patients to no more radiation than they are naturally exposed to in one week, or 10 percent of that received from a chest x-ray.

Autumn Hand, Independence, Mo., x-ray technician and medical assistant, has worked with Catausan since he opened his family practice in September. She has scanned patients and heard favorable comments.

“They love it,” she said. “It’s completely different than what they thought. They see a map of the areas they need to work on.”

Hand said patients can tell the difference between fat and muscle from the map. She had her body scanned for composition and was surprised with the results.

“It’s an eye opener,” she said.

For more information, contact exclusiveMD at (913) 324-5007.

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