Longevity & Body Composition
The longevity conversation in 2026 has never been louder. Rings, patches, blood panels, whole-body scans — there's a tracker for everything. But which numbers actually tell you whether you're aging well, and which are just noise?
A recent Forbes analysis by physician Dr. Jesse Pines cut through that noise, ranking ten popular ways to track your health and biological age by one sensible standard: the strength of the evidence relative to the cost. Two of the highest-value tools he pointed to are ones you can access right now — a DEXA scan and VO2 max testing. Here's what each one reveals, why it matters, and how to find one near you.
Why tracking your numbers works
Most of us already know the fundamentals: move more, eat well, sleep enough, manage stress. The hard part is knowing whether those efforts are actually paying off inside your body. That's what measurement does — it turns vague wellness goals into concrete numbers you can move, and it creates a feedback loop that catches quiet, negative trends long before they become medical problems.
The key is picking the right numbers. Not every test is worth your time or money, so it pays to focus on the metrics with the deepest research behind them.
The DEXA scan: the clearest picture of your body composition
Step on a bathroom scale and you get a single number that can't tell muscle from fat, or show you where that fat actually sits. A DEXA scan does. In about ten minutes, it breaks your body down into three things that matter far more than weight:
- Lean muscle mass — how much you have, and where. Muscle is your metabolic engine and your insurance policy against frailty as you age.
- Body fat percentage — the real figure, including how fat is distributed across your body.
- Bone density — an early-warning system for bone loss you can't feel until it becomes a fracture.
Why does this matter so much? Because two of the biggest threats to a long, active life are largely invisible. Muscle loss (sarcopenia) and bone loss (osteoporosis) creep in silently over years, driving falls, fractures, and loss of independence. And visceral fat — the fat packed around your organs — is a stronger predictor of metabolic and cardiovascular risk than body weight alone. A DEXA scan is one of the only accessible tests that puts precise numbers on all of it.
The best part: a DEXA scan gives you a baseline you can return to. One scan is a snapshot; scanning once or twice a year turns it into a trend line that shows whether you're holding onto muscle, protecting your bones, and reducing the fat that matters.
VO2 max: possibly the single most powerful longevity metric
If body composition tells you what you're made of, VO2 max tells you how well your engine runs. VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during hard exercise, and it's the gold-standard measure of cardiorespiratory fitness — how efficiently your heart, lungs, and muscles work together.
It also happens to be one of the most powerful predictors of how long you'll live. In the Forbes breakdown, VO2 max was described as possibly "the single most powerful longevity predictor" available. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness is consistently linked to better survival — and unlike your age, it's a number you can improve. VO2 max is trainable at any stage of life, which makes it one of the most motivating metrics to measure and then work on.
The real secret: consistency beats novelty
With so many shiny new tests on the market, it's easy to feel like you need all of them. You don't. The takeaway from the Forbes piece is one we've believed all along: consistently tracking a few well-validated numbers over time beats chasing every new gadget that comes out.
That's the entire idea behind DEXASCAN. Know your numbers, then track them. A DEXA scan and a VO2 max test give you two of the most evidence-backed, cost-effective data points in all of preventive health — a foundation you can build a longer, stronger life on.
Find a DEXA scan or VO2 max test near you
DEXASCAN connects you with trusted providers across the country. Your numbers are closer than you think.
Find a Location Near You →Frequently asked questions
What does a DEXA scan measure?
A DEXA scan measures your body composition — precisely how much of your body is fat, lean muscle, and bone — and shows where fat is distributed, including visceral fat around your organs. It's widely considered one of the most accurate body-composition tests available.
How often should I get a DEXA scan?
Many experts suggest a baseline scan and then repeating it once or twice a year, particularly after age 40, so you can track changes in muscle, fat, and bone over time. Ask a provider what cadence makes sense for your goals.
What is VO2 max, and why does it matter?
VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise and the leading measure of cardiorespiratory fitness. It's strongly associated with longevity — and because it's trainable at any age, it's one of the most actionable numbers you can track.
Where can I get a DEXA scan or VO2 max test near me?
You can find a DEXA scan or VO2 max provider near you using the DEXASCAN locator. Enter your area and connect with a trusted location to book your scan.
This article references "Want To Live Longer? Here Are 10 Ways To Manage Your Health And Track Aging" by Jesse Pines, MD, published in Forbes on July 20, 2026. The full analysis is available on Forbes.com. This content is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice.