On Health

Full Body Scans: Have Preventive Services Gone Too Far?

Aug. 26, 2024 - Katie McCallum

What if you could detect a health issue inside your body before you ever felt a single symptom? Some companies claim they have the technology to do just that with full body scans.

"Recently, whole body MRI scans have become more widely available as the technology has advanced, offering faster scans with sharper images that can be completed in about 30 to 60 minutes," says Dr. Diego Martin, professor of radiology at Houston Methodist.

If you've heard any of the hype about how empowering these scans can be, you might find yourself wondering whether a full body MRI scan is worth the cost — not inconsiderable since insurance won't cover one for a healthy adult. Are those of us not inclined to foot the bill missing out on an important health tool?

Or are such scans too good to be true?

The importance of screenings

The idea of catching disease before it becomes life-threatening isn't new. It's why blood work is a routine part of annual check-ups and the reason mammograms, colonoscopies and other screenings are recommended. (Related: 5 Cancer Screenings You Should Know)

"These tests have been evaluated through large, multinational clinical trials, and the data have been thoroughly scrutinized by clinicians and scientists," explains Dr. Martin. "Experts have reached a consensus on the life-saving benefits of these screenings, as well as how often they're needed."

Companies offering to put the power of prevention directly into your hands aren't new either. First came at-home genetic testing, marketed as a way to reveal whether your genes might put you at higher risk for certain health conditions, like breast cancer. Since then, the range of DIY blood testing kits has skyrocketed, claiming to help uncover everything from food allergies to thyroid problems.

Dr. Martin warns that these direct-to-consumer tests aren't well studied, meaning their benefits are much less clear compared to recommended health screenings. And while issues can certainly be picked up via these tests on occasion, the potential for harm often outweighs the small chance of benefit.

"We worry about false positives and incidental findings, which can lead to unnecessary and costly follow-up testing," adds Dr. Martin. "Not to mention the associated anxiety of receiving such a result."

What is a full body scan?

A full body scan is an imaging procedure that creates a detailed picture of your body's internal structures, focusing primarily on the brain, chest, heart, abdomen and pelvis.

A few different technologies can be used to image the whole body, including:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Computed tomography (CT)
Positron emission tomography (PET)

"These technologies are incredibly useful for evaluating organs and tissues in order to help diagnose or monitor various conditions, including cancers, heart, lung and vascular disease, spine problems and brain disorders," explains Dr. Martin. "But they are rarely used to image the entire body all at once in a person without a known or suspected disease."

While a physician's decision to perform imaging is based on a thorough assessment of symptoms and medical history, companies marketing these technologies to healthy individuals take a different approach. Anyone can undergo this imaging for any reason — so long as they can afford it.

What can a full body MRI scan detect?

MRI plays a crucial role in the clinical setting, helping detect a wide range of diseases and disorders early, including:

Solid tumors in the brain, breast, liver, pancreas, kidneys, prostate and more
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Brain aneurysms
Spinal problems
Structural and functional heart disease
Metabolic disorders, like fatty liver and subsequent chronic liver disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Noncancerous masses, such as cysts

"However, it's critical to understand that a fully body MRI offered by a private wellness company isn't the best way to detect these health issues," warns Dr. Martin. "Without standardization and careful control of how tests are being performed and outcomes are monitored, people should approach these companies and scans with caution."

It's important to consider who is conducting and interpreting your scans. And similar to your smartwatch or some other piece of sophisticated technology, the machine being used needs to be up to today's standards. Your results depend upon the expertise of the technical operators and the radiologists, as well as the machine being used.

"At a hospital like Houston Methodist, we have fellowship trained radiologists interpreting results produced by state-of-the-art imaging systems," Dr. Martin explains. "This level of expertise is critical for accurate diagnosis."

Just like health screenings, a full body MRI can't be a one-and-done health check. Even if the scan comes back clear, it doesn't guarantee you won't develop a problem in the future. This is why mammograms, colonoscopies and other important screenings are repeated at clinically-validated intervals — which can vary based on your test results and personal health history.

Additionally, if a whole body MRI uncovers something unusual, it doesn't automatically mean that it's a serious disease. It may be necessary to repeat the scan at a later time or perform additional other tests.

Taking charge of your health is foundational to reducing the risk of many common diseases

"The idea of routinely looking inside the body is tempting, and MRI is an amazing and powerful diagnostic technology, but full body scans for healthy people are not yet supported by scientific scrutiny or recommended by a consensus of experts," says Dr. Martin.

Having one also doesn't mean you can skip recommended screenings, like your next colonoscopy or mammogram.

"These are validated tests known to reduce deaths from cancers and cannot be substituted by a whole-body MRI performed by a private wellness company," Dr. Martin adds.

Before jumping on the bandwagon of yet another wellness trend, try these simple, effective ways to stay healthy and prevent future health issues: