Matt Lauer is taking a full-body approach to our #NoShaveTODAY campaign this year.
As part of TODAY's annual effort to raise awareness for men's health issues, Matt underwent a full body scan that, along with other tests, can help provide a baseline for overall health.
NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center's Iris Cantor Men's Health Center performed the scan using a Lunar iDXA body composition scanner.
"What we're looking for is just a picture of how you're built and where it's distributed," Dr. Alexis Te said.
The scanner uses low-dose radiation to map out muscle, bone and fat. This ranges from fat just below the skin to fat closer to the organs, which can be an indicator of serious conditions such as Type 2 diabetes.
The areas in the body where men store fat can also be an important predictor of health. Those with the body of an apple shape have more fat in the waist, putting them at greater risk for high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. The risks are lower for those who are pear-shaped, carrying more fat in the hips and thighs.
The scan, which takes about seven minutes, can provide a wealth of health information.
"All the bones appear to be in the right place right?" Matt asked.
When it comes to fat, Te told Matt that his numbers were very low.
"You're in great shape," Te said.
Matt had 10 vials of blood taken in order to check his lipid levels, including cholesterol — this tested whether he's at a greater risk for heart disease or stroke.
Other blood tests checked Matt's thyroid, which helps regulate metabolism, and those tests came back normal. His tests to check his kidneys, liver and hormones all came back fine as well.
As the TODAY anchors continue the No-shave November tradition of getting poked, prodded and probed, Matt said it was nice to get a clean bill of health.
Even so, he noted, it's important to keep up with exercise and eating right, but the scanner, Matt said, is a good way to get a snapshot of overall health and fitness at one moment in time.
The scan costs approximately $350 and is an elective procedure, so check with your insurance company to see if it's covered.
TODAY.com contributor Lisa A. Flam is a news and lifestyles reporter in New York. Follow her on Twitter: @lisaflam