Booking and General clinic info
No, you do not! Anyone is welcome to book directly with us. We believe in empowering you to take control of your own health.
However, we gladly welcome referrals from other health professionals, as this allows them to easily share your relevant medical history with us.
Important note for insurance: The only time you must have a referral is if you plan to claim a bone density scan or an endocrinology appointment through your private medical insurance.
We warmly welcome referrals from GPs, specialists, and allied health professionals.
If you are a health professional, you can simply email your referral letter and the patient's relevant medical history directly to us at admin@forwardhealthrotorua.com
If you are a patient whose doctor is referring you (especially if you need it for medical insurance), simply ask your doctor to email their referral directly to admin@forwardhealthrotorua.com
Yes, we are! Forward Health is a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider.
How you access cover depends on the service:
Endocrinology Consultations: Southern Cross policies require a referral from your GP to cover specialist consultations. Have your GP send a referral directly to us, or email us your referral along with your policy number so we can process approval.
Bone Density Scans: Depending on your plan and clinical background, you may be able to self-refer. Email us your Southern Cross policy number and your reason for seeking a scan. We can check your eligibility directly with Southern Cross and confirm your booking!
(Note: Body composition scans are considered health-tracking tools rather than diagnostic imaging, so they are not covered by health insurance.)
DXA Body & Bone Scans
It completely depends on what you are trying to measure and improve! Here is a quick breakdown:
Choose a Body Composition Scan if: You want a detailed map of your muscle mass, overall body fat percentage, and hidden visceral fat. This is the best choice if you are actively losing weight, tracking physical training, or want to monitor your metabolic health and protect against age-related muscle loss.
Choose a Bone Density Scan if: You are specifically looking to assess your skeletal strength. This is the clinical scan used to check your bone health and identify risks for osteoporosis, osteopenia, or fractures, which is especially important as we age or go through hormonal changes.
Want the full picture? We offer a Total Body Combo that includes both scans in one seamless appointment!
If you are still unsure which baseline is right for you, just send us an email and we will gladly point you in the right direction.
Yes, they are highly safe, fast, and easy. The scan takes just 10 to 20 minutes and uses a very low dose of radiation—similar to, or even less than, a standard background medical X-ray.
Because DXA relies on X-ray technology, we do not perform these scans if you are or might be pregnant.
There are just a few simple things to keep in mind to ensure we get the most accurate data:
Recent Medical Imaging: If you have recently had an MRI, CT, or another medical scan that required contrast dye, barium, or radioactive isotopes, you will need to wait 7 to 10 days for those materials to fully clear your system before having your DXA scan.
Exercise: For the most accurate body composition results, please avoid heavy weightlifting or intense exercise for at least 4 hours prior to your appointment, as muscle pump and hydration shifts can slightly alter the reading.
Clothing: Just come as you are in comfortable clothing! However, please ensure your clothing has no metal (such as zippers, metal buttons, belts, or underwire bras), as metal will interfere with the scan's accuracy.
It comes down to exactly how the technology measures your body:
Gym and Bathroom Scales: These typically use bioelectrical impedance (BIA), which sends a small electrical current through your feet or hands to estimate your fat and muscle. Because they rely heavily on the water content in your body, their results are easily thrown off by what you’ve eaten, how much water you've had to drink, or if you recently exercised. They also cannot accurately measure bone health or single out visceral fat.
The DXA Scan: A clinical-grade DXA scan doesn't rely on hydration estimates. It uses highly advanced, low-dose X-ray technology to take a physical, internal image of your body. It provides highly detailed, objective data by exactly mapping where your fat and muscle are distributed (including side-to-side muscle imbalances and deep, internal visceral fat), while simultaneously measuring your skeletal bone weight.
In short: scales offer a broad estimate, while a DXA scan provides a true, clinical-grade baseline.
No, a DXA scan is not a general diagnostic X-ray. It cannot be used to see or diagnose internal organ issues, tumors, or complex joint disease.
However, because the scan takes a full-body structural image, it can visually show the overall shape of your spine and point out signs of scoliosis or postural alignment issues.
While this gives us a great visual insight into your structural alignment and side-to-side muscle balance, a DXA scan is strictly calibrated for measuring body composition and bone density. If you are experiencing back pain or suspect a spinal condition, you will still need to consult your GP for dedicated diagnostic medical imaging.
Body Composition Scan: You get your results on the spot! You will receive a printed report immediately after your scan, and our clinician will sit down with you to go through your data and answer any questions.
Bone Density Scan: Your results will be thoroughly reviewed and sent to you within 10 working days. This allows time for proper clinical reporting so you (and your GP, if applicable) receive a complete and accurate picture of your skeletal strength.
We handle this with absolute care and understanding. Struggling with weight—whether that means carrying extra weight, navigating cyclic weight loss/gain, or recovering from an eating disorder—often comes with a lot of hidden, disordered thinking around food, exercise, and body image.
It is completely normal to feel anxiety, shame, or guilt when facing numbers on a page. Depending on where you are mentally, seeing a detailed breakdown of your body fat can sometimes be an unexpected trigger.
Here is how we help you navigate this safely:
Bone Density Scans: If you are hesitant about body fat numbers, a bone density scan is a fantastic alternative. It looks purely at your skeletal strength and structure. This can be deeply beneficial, as we know that periods of malnutrition, low energy availability, missed periods (amenorrhea), or rapid weight fluctuations can significantly impact bone mineral density, increasing your risk for early bone loss.
The "Blind Scan" Option: If you need body composition data for medical reasons but knowing the numbers will cause mental distress, we offer blind scans. We perform the scan and send the report directly to your GP, dietitian, or therapist without printing or showing you the fat mass breakdown.
A Note from Jenna (Occupational Therapist): Years of struggling with weight or body image can create a heavy mental burden. If you answer "yes" to having disordered thoughts around food, body image, or movement—even if you've never had a formal diagnosis—Jenna strongly suggests booking a Mindset Integration package alongside your scan.
Rather than leaving you to process raw numbers on your own, Jenna will sit down with you to look at the data, unpack any hidden disordered patterns, and help you build a realistic, sustainable way forward—focusing on long-term health rather than quick fixes or guilt.
Your mental peace and your relationship with your body matter just as much as your physical metrics. If you aren't sure what approach is right for you, please reach out. We are here to support you in a completely judgment-free space.
Absolutely. This is exactly why we created our Mindset Integration and Occupational Therapy sessions. It is incredibly common to feel a war in your head around food and movement. Jenna will sit down with you to unpack that mental friction, dismantle the "all-or-nothing" guilt, and help you build a practical, easy forward plan that actually works for your real life.