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Measure. Understand. Improve.
FAQ
Clear answers before you book.
Browse common questions about Benchmark Proactive Health assessments, memberships, dashboard insights, booking, clinic location, and how our Burlington team helps you take a proactive approach to long-term health.
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Use the tabs to browse broad FAQ groups for getting started, assessments, tracking, and location details. The full FAQ is available in the All view for easy scanning.
Getting Started
General questions about Benchmark, booking, and memberships.
General
What is Benchmark Proactive Health?
Benchmark Proactive Health is a preventive health clinic in Burlington, Ontario that helps members measure, understand, and improve long-term health through advanced assessments, physician guidance, AI-supported insights, and a personal health dashboard.
Is this HSA approved?
We are typically approved for HSA plans. It is best to confirm coverage directly with your plan provider. Please email us to request a pre-determination of benefits form that you can send to your provider. You can also email us if you would like an invoice after payment to submit for HSA reimbursement.
Does this require a doctor referral?
No. You can book with us directly and no referral is needed. Our services are private-pay.
Which health assessments can I book?
You can book membership packages or standalone assessments, including body composition DEXA scans, advanced blood work, VO2 max testing, functional testing, and continuous glucose monitoring. Memberships include access to ongoing blood pressure, sleep, nutrition, and activity tracking with compatible devices, plus goal setting tools to help you track your progress.
Do I need a membership to get started?
No. You can choose a membership or an individual assessment. Lifestyle and Performance memberships include a physician review of your results with personalized guidance and a one-on-one consultation. All memberships include a mid-year DEXA scan, monthly expert talks and Q&A, Sage AI, blood pressure tracking, and ongoing goal tracking if you have compatible fitness, sleep, or food logging tools.
Who is Benchmark best for?
Benchmark is built for people who want a proactive, data-driven view of their health instead of waiting for problems to appear or wondering about their health without clarity, direction, or accountability. It is useful for longevity and healthspan, weight loss and body composition goals, fitness and athletic performance, metabolic and cardiovascular health, disease prevention, and general prevention goals.
Is Benchmark a replacement for my family doctor?
No. Benchmark is designed to complement, not replace, your primary care provider and other healthcare professionals. We focus on health measurement, education, personalized insights, longitudinal tracking, and lifestyle optimization. Benchmark does not provide ongoing medical care, diagnose or treat medical conditions, prescribe medications, or manage chronic diseases. Physician review or commentary through Benchmark is informational and educational, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Participation in Benchmark does not create a physician-patient relationship. Continue to see your family physician or other qualified healthcare provider for routine medical care, diagnosis, treatment, and management of health concerns. If you have urgent or emergency medical needs, contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency care immediately.
What makes the Benchmark dashboard different?
The dashboard connects your metrics over time, highlights trends, supports goals, and brings assessment results, wearable data, clinician comments, and AI-supported insights into one place to help you understand and improve your health.
Are results reviewed by a physician?
If you purchase the Lifestyle or Performance membership, your results are reviewed and analyzed by a physician, and you can discuss them in a one-on-one conversation to gain insights and recommendations. Some standalone services also include physician review, such as blood work with a physician review. Other assessments, such as the Body Composition DEXA Scan, include a clinician review, typically with a chiropractor. Benchmark assessments and memberships are designed around professional review so your results are interpreted in context and translated into practical next steps.
Where is Benchmark located?
Benchmark Proactive Health is located in Burlington, Ontario, Canada at 3325 Harvester Rd, Unit 5. Some services are completed on-site in clinic, while select tracking and blood work workflows can be supported remotely.
Booking
How do I book an appointment?
You can book an appointment online or contact Benchmark directly by phone at (647) 496-6119 or email at hello@mybenchmarkhealth.com if you want help choosing the right assessment or membership.
What happens at my first visit?
Your first visit depends on the service you book. Most appointments include a short intake, the assessment itself, and a review of what happens next so you know when and how results will appear in your dashboard.
Can I book more than one assessment at the same time?
Yes. If you choose the Performance membership, the initial assessment session includes the Body Composition DEXA Scan, Functional Testing, and VO2 Max test, followed by blood work, continuous glucose monitoring, and optional tracking of blood pressure, activity, sleep, and nutrition. Outside of memberships, you can also combine assessments such as DEXA, VO2 max, blood work, CGM, and functional testing to build a more complete baseline.
How long do appointments take?
Appointment length depends on the assessment. A DEXA appointment is typically about 30 minutes, while a full functional testing and VO2 max session can take 45 to 60 minutes.
How should I choose my first assessment?
If you are unsure where to start, a DEXA Scan provides a strong body composition baseline and can help identify initial opportunities. From there, you can decide whether to commit to a follow-up scan and tracking through Foundation, or choose Lifestyle to add continuous glucose monitoring, blood work, physician review, and a personalized roadmap.
Can I ask questions before booking?
Yes. We welcome your questions. You can call or email Benchmark before booking and the team can help you compare assessments, understand preparation instructions, and decide whether a membership makes sense. Reach us at hello@mybenchmarkhealth.com or (647) 496-6119.
Memberships
How do Benchmark memberships work?
Memberships connect assessments with ongoing tracking, dashboard access, AI-supported insights, and expert guidance. Foundation, Lifestyle, and Performance offer different levels of testing and support.
What is the difference between Foundation, Lifestyle, and Performance?
Foundation focuses on body composition, tracking, and core dashboard insights from your results. Lifestyle adds deeper metabolic insight with blood work and continuous glucose monitoring, plus physician review, personalized insights, and an action plan. Performance builds on Lifestyle with VO2 max and functional testing for a more complete fitness and healthspan profile. All memberships include monthly group physician talks, Sage AI, and ongoing goal tracking for sleep, activity, nutrition, and blood pressure using compatible devices and apps.
Can I start with one assessment and join later?
Yes. You can book an assessment first and then move into a membership when you are ready for follow-up assessment, ongoing tracking and analysis, additional testing, and more structured support.
Are memberships only for athletes?
No. Benchmark memberships are designed for anyone who wants to understand their health trends, reduce long-term risk, improve body composition and function, or build a more proactive plan for health and longevity. If you value data-driven insights, expert guidance, and support, Benchmark could be a good fit.
Do memberships include physician guidance?
Yes. Memberships include professional review and guidance so your data is connected to clear priorities instead of isolated numbers. Foundation includes a clinician review, typically with a chiropractor, as part of the initial and follow-up DEXA Scan appointments. Lifestyle and Performance include an in-depth physician review, personalized comments and recommendations in your dashboard, and a one-on-one discussion of your results.
Can I upgrade my membership later?
Yes. You can move to a higher membership tier if you want deeper testing, more performance data, or additional support over time.
Assessments
Questions about DEXA, blood work, CGM, VO2 max, and functional testing.
DEXA Scan
What happens at the appointment?
Your appointment is 30 minutes. We explain the process before your scan, then you lie on the scanning table and relax while the scanner arm moves above you. The scan itself takes about 5 to 7 minutes. Afterward, a Benchmark clinician, most often a chiropractor, reviews your results so the takeaways are clear. Your results are available the same day in your personal online dashboard, where you can compare key results to people your age and sex, learn how to improve them, track changes over time, and download a PDF report to share with your care team.
Is this HSA approved?
We are typically approved for HSA plans. It is best to confirm coverage directly with your plan provider. Please email us to request a pre-determination of benefits form or an invoice for HSA reimbursement.
How often should I get a Body Composition DEXA Scan?
We recommend getting the scan every 3 to 6 months to monitor progress against your goals. The DEXA scan's high level of precision allows you to track changes with confidence, and the dashboard helps you identify changes across scans.
How do I prepare for the DEXA Scan?
Wear a single layer of comfortable clothing without metal, including no zippers and no underwire bra. You will remove jewellery, piercings, metal accessories, shoes, and outerwear before the scan. Avoid intense workouts, excessive sweating, large meals, or a lot of liquid in the 3 hours before your scan to keep scan-to-scan comparisons consistent.
How much radiation is involved?
The scan involves very little radiation, approximately 0.02 millisieverts (mSv) per scan, which is less than a typical flight across the United States.
Can this tell me if I have osteoporosis or osteopenia?
No. This scan is non-diagnostic. It provides an indication of overall bone density, but it cannot diagnose osteoporosis or osteopenia, which requires a different type of DEXA assessment.
Do I need a doctor's requisition?
No. You do not need a requisition or referral. If you have a doctor's requisition for a diagnostic bone density scan, that is a different type of analysis and we do not offer diagnostic scans.
Who should consider a DEXA body composition scan?
DEXA is useful if you want a precise baseline for lean mass, fat mass, visceral fat, and bone density trends. It is especially helpful for people focused on body composition, longevity, strength, or tracking changes from training and nutrition.
Can I have a DEXA scan if I have a pacemaker or implanted device?
Yes. DEXA scans are safe for people with pacemakers. The scan uses a very low dose of X-rays and does not interfere with these devices. Metal may affect measurements in the immediate area of the implant, but it has little impact on overall body composition results. Please let us know before your scan so we can interpret your results appropriately.
Can I have a DEXA scan if I have a joint replacement or metal implant?
Yes. Joint replacements, surgical hardware, and most other metal implants do not prevent you from having a DEXA scan. Metal may affect measurements in the immediate area of the implant, but it has little impact on overall body composition results. Please let us know before your scan so we can interpret your results appropriately.
Can I have a DEXA scan if I have breast implants?
Yes. Breast implants do not prevent you from having a DEXA scan and have minimal impact on overall body composition measurements. Please let us know if you have breast implants before your scan so we can interpret your results appropriately.
What if I decide to do a membership later?
After you do your Body Composition DEXA Scan, let us know and we can credit your scan toward a membership.
When will I get my results?
We review your results with you immediately following your scan. Detailed data and analysis are available right away in your online dashboard, including educational content about key metrics, why they matter, and how to improve them. You can track changes over time and download a PDF report to share.
Blood Work
Which biomarker categories are reviewed?
Benchmark can organize blood work across metabolic, inflammatory, hormone, cardiovascular, kidney, liver, and nutrient categories.
Which markers are included in the blood panel?
The advanced blood panel includes 45+ biomarkers spanning metabolic health, cardiovascular risk, liver and kidney function, thyroid function, inflammation, and key nutrients. Additional thyroid markers, hormone panels, and specialty markers can be added for an extra cost.
Do I get help interpreting results?
Yes. The goal is not just lab values. Benchmark provides expert guidance to help you understand your results, identify opportunities, and outline practical next steps. Blood results are reviewed in depth by a physician and discussed with you in a one-on-one review, either in person or by video call.
Can I add custom blood markers?
Yes. Beyond the standard panel, you can request additional markers to track metrics that matter most to your health goals. Blood work is completed at your nearest Dynacare location, with remote ordering available.
How often should I get blood work done?
Most members benefit from blood work every 3 to 12 months, depending on their goals and whether they are tracking lifestyle changes, treatment decisions, or longer-term trends.
Do I need to fast before my blood draw?
Yes. A 10 to 12 hour fast is recommended for accurate metabolic and lipid panel results. Water is fine during the fasting period.
Where is blood work completed?
Blood work is completed at your nearest Dynacare location. We send you a requisition to take to the lab for your blood draw. Dynacare also offers at-home testing in the GTA for an additional cost; please ask us if you are interested. Your results are displayed and analyzed in your online dashboard, interpreted by a physician, and reviewed with you in a one-on-one discussion.
Is blood work included in every membership?
Advanced blood work is included in Lifestyle and Performance memberships. It can also be booked as a standalone assessment for people who want a deeper biomarker baseline. Blood work can be ordered remotely by getting in touch with Benchmark and does not require an in-person visit to Benchmark.
Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)
What does a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) show me?
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) shows how your body responds to different foods and lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress, and movement. It tracks glucose in real time, typically every 5 minutes, which can reveal drivers behind your results that point-in-time assessments may miss. You can observe which foods lead to glucose spikes and how quickly your levels return to baseline.
Is this only for diabetes?
No. Continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data can help many people understand metabolic patterns and personalize nutrition choices.
How does the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor work?
A small, discreet sensor is applied to the back of your upper arm. It reads glucose levels in the interstitial fluid every few minutes and transmits the data wirelessly to a mobile app. You wear it continuously for 10 days and then discard it.
Is the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor included?
Yes. The 10-day sensor is included with Lifestyle and Performance memberships, or when you order a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) as a standalone assessment.
Which continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor is provided?
We use the Dexcom G7 device.
How do I log my meals?
You log meals, snacks, exercise, and other events through the Dexcom G7 app. Your food logs are displayed alongside your glucose data so you can see how each meal affects your levels.
What happens after the 10 days?
After the monitoring period, your results are available in the Benchmark dashboard with AI-powered insights and trend analysis. When you schedule your Results Review, a physician reviews your data, identifies patterns, and provides a personalized action plan based on your results.
How should I prepare for the continuous glucose monitor (CGM)?
No special preparation is needed. We recommend eating and exercising as you normally would so the data reflects your real-life patterns. The main purpose is learning, so approach it with curiosity. The sensor is applied during a brief appointment.
Is the sensor uncomfortable?
Most people forget it is there. The sensor is small, lightweight, and water-resistant. Application involves a quick pinch and is generally painless. You can shower, exercise, and sleep normally while wearing it.
Can I shower, swim, and exercise with the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor?
Yes. The sensor is water-resistant and designed for normal daily life, including showering, sleeping, and exercise.
What if I decide to do a membership later?
After your continuous glucose monitor (CGM) experience, let us know and we can credit the cost toward a membership. Continuous glucose monitoring is included in the Lifestyle and Performance plans.
VO2 Max
Why does VO2 max matter?
VO2 max is one of the strongest predictors of long-term health and longevity, reflecting how efficiently your heart, lungs, and muscles work together to deliver and use oxygen. It assesses cardiorespiratory fitness and high-effort capacity, and it can improve with targeted training.
Is the test only for athletes?
No. VO2 max testing can help anyone understand current fitness and build a smarter training plan and roadmap for better long-term health and vitality.
How should I prepare for a VO2 max test?
Wear comfortable athletic clothing and running or cycling shoes. Avoid a heavy meal within 2 hours of testing, avoid intense training beforehand, and arrive well hydrated. Prepare as you normally would for an intense workout.
What do I learn from VO2 max testing?
You learn your aerobic capacity, estimated training zones based on heart rate, and cardiorespiratory baseline. These results help guide smarter exercise programming and allow you to track fitness changes over time.
How often should I repeat VO2 max testing?
Most people can benefit from retesting every 3 to 6 months if they are actively training or making lifestyle changes. If you are using it as a general longevity and health marker, a testing target closer to every 9 to 12 months may be appropriate.
Functional Testing
What is functional testing?
Functional testing evaluates movement, strength, balance, and power to help identify performance opportunities and potential risk areas. Tests may be modified based on your profile, and typically include grip strength, knee extension strength, a Y-balance or single-leg balance test, and broad jump power.
How does this connect to my plan?
The results help guide practical next steps for training, mobility, recovery, and performance.
How should I prepare for the functional testing session?
Wear comfortable athletic clothing and shoes. Avoid a heavy meal within 2 hours of testing and stay well hydrated. If you have any injuries or joint concerns, let us know before the session so we can make appropriate modifications.
How long does the full functional testing session take?
The complete session, including VO2 max, grip strength, balance, broad jump, and knee extensions, typically takes 45 to 60 minutes including warm-up and cool-down.
How often should I repeat functional testing?
We recommend retesting every 3 to 6 months to track progress and measure the impact of training changes. Your dashboard shows trends over time so you can see how fitness and strength are improving.
What if I have an injury or limitation?
Let us know ahead of time. Many tests can be modified, and we can still capture valuable baseline data on the tests you can complete safely. Your results are always reviewed in context.
What do I get after the tests?
You receive a professional review of your results, access to your Benchmark dashboard with trend tracking and AI analysis, and actionable recommendations to improve performance and healthspan.
Tracking
Questions about the dashboard, wearables, sleep, nutrition, activity, and blood pressure.
Dashboard
What information appears in my dashboard?
Your dashboard can include assessment results, body composition trends, biomarkers, glucose data, blood pressure readings, sleep, activity, nutrition, goals, clinician comments, and AI-supported insights depending on your services.
Can I track progress over time?
Yes. Benchmark is built around longitudinal tracking so you can compare repeat assessments, identify trends, and see whether your habits are moving key metrics in the right direction.
Can I download or share my results?
Assessment results can be reviewed in your dashboard, and DEXA reports can be downloaded as PDFs that you can share with a coach, clinician, or other trusted professional.
How are AI insights used?
AI-supported insights help organize patterns, explain metrics in plain language, and surface questions or next steps. They are designed to support, not replace, professional review.
Is my health data private?
Benchmark treats health data as sensitive information and uses it to provide your assessments, dashboard, and guidance. You should contact the team directly if you have detailed privacy or data access questions.
Can wearable data sync into Benchmark?
Yes. Benchmark can sync supported data through Apple Health and Android Health Connect, allowing many common wearables and apps to feed sleep, activity, nutrition, and blood pressure data into your dashboard.
Blood Pressure
Why track blood pressure over time?
Trends can be more useful than a single reading because they show how sleep, stress, training, nutrition, and lifestyle affect cardiovascular health.
Can Benchmark help improve my numbers?
Benchmark can help connect measurements to a personalized plan focused on prevention and sustainable behavior change.
Do I need to buy a specific blood pressure cuff?
You can use your own compatible blood pressure monitor if it writes data to Apple Health or Android Health Connect. Benchmark displays the readings your device supports.
How often should I measure blood pressure?
Consistent timing is more useful than random readings. Many people measure in the morning or at another repeatable time so trends are easier to interpret.
Sleep Tracking
What wearables are supported?
Benchmark currently integrates with Oura Ring, Apple Watch, Whoop, and Garmin devices. Sleep data syncs automatically once your wearable is connected to your Benchmark account.
How is sleep data tracked?
Your wearable records sleep duration, bedtime, wake time, sleep stages, respiratory rate, and resting heart rate each night. This data syncs to your Benchmark dashboard, where it is analyzed over time.
What does a physician review include?
For members with physician review, your physician can review sleep trends, consistency patterns, and recovery metrics alongside your broader health data. During a one-on-one session, they may discuss areas for improvement and provide personalized recommendations.
How accurate is wearable sleep tracking?
Consumer wearables are not diagnostic-grade, but they can provide useful estimates of total sleep time, consistency, and trends. They are helpful for tracking patterns and measuring improvement over time.
Can I set custom sleep goals?
Yes. You can set personalized goals for bedtime, wake time, and total sleep duration. Your dashboard shows goal adherence over time so you can see how consistently you meet your targets.
Do I need a specific wearable for sleep tracking?
Benchmark supports sleep data from several common wearables through connected health platforms. If you already use a wearable, contact Benchmark to confirm the best way to sync your data.
Nutrition Tracking
How does nutrition data sync to Benchmark?
Nutrition data syncs through Apple Health or Android Health Connect. Any app that writes nutrition data to those platforms, such as MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, or Lose It, can feed into your Benchmark dashboard once permissions are enabled.
What nutrients does Benchmark track?
Benchmark tracks protein intake, total calories, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber/fibre. These macronutrients are displayed as daily totals with weekly and monthly trend views.
Do I have to log every meal?
Food logging is optional. If you log food, Benchmark displays what your nutrition app sends to Apple Health or Android Health Connect. The more consistently you log, the more useful the trends become. Because Benchmark receives daily macronutrient totals, it is best to log full days when possible, even if only for a few days.
Can I set nutrition goals?
Yes. You can set personalized daily targets for protein, calories, carbs, fat, and fiber/fibre. Your dashboard tracks adherence so you and, if applicable, the physician reviewing your results can see how consistently you hit your targets.
How does a physician use my nutrition data?
If physician review is included in your service or membership, your physician can review nutrition trends alongside body composition, blood work, and activity data. This helps connect what you eat to how your body is changing over time.
Which nutrition apps can I use?
Any nutrition app that writes data to Apple Health or Android Health Connect can feed information into Benchmark. Common examples include MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, and Lose It.
Activity Tracking
What wearables and apps are supported?
Benchmark syncs activity data from Apple Health and Android Health Connect. Most popular wearables, including Apple Watch on Apple Health, Garmin, Whoop, Oura, Fitbit on Android, and Samsung Galaxy Watch on Android, can feed data into your dashboard when supported by the connected platform.
How are activity types detected?
Activity types are recorded by your wearable or fitness app and passed through to Benchmark. The accuracy of activity classification depends on your device and how workouts are logged.
Can I set custom activity goals?
Yes. You can set goals for daily active minutes, steps, active energy, and walking or running distance. Metric availability varies by device. Your dashboard tracks adherence so you can see progress over time.
How is active energy calculated?
Active energy, or calories burned during movement, is estimated by your wearable using heart rate, motion sensors, and personal metrics like age, weight, and height. Benchmark displays the value your device reports.
Does this replace a fitness app?
No. Benchmark complements your existing fitness apps by adding AI insights, goal tracking, and longitudinal trend analysis on top of the activity data you are already collecting.
Can Android users sync activity data?
Yes. Android users can sync supported activity data through Android Health Connect when their wearable or fitness app writes to that platform.
Location & Contact
Clinic location, service area, directions, and ways to contact Benchmark.
Location & Contact
Where is Benchmark Proactive Health located?
Benchmark is located at 3325 Harvester Rd, Unit 5, Burlington, ON, L7N 3N2, Canada. Our entrance is on the east side of the building.
What areas does Benchmark serve?
Benchmark serves clients in Burlington and across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including Oakville, Hamilton, Mississauga, Milton, Waterdown, Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Guelph, Grimsby, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas, and nearby Ontario communities.
How can I contact Benchmark?
You can call Benchmark at (647) 496-6119 or email hello@mybenchmarkhealth.com for booking questions, assessment guidance, or membership information.
Can I get directions on Google Maps?
Yes. Use the Google Maps link on the FAQ or About page to open directions to the Burlington clinic.
Are any services available remotely?
Some services and tracking workflows can be supported remotely, including blood work ordering through Dynacare and wearable-based tracking. In-clinic assessments such as DEXA and functional testing require a visit to the clinic.
Should I call before visiting?
Yes. We offer in-person assessments by appointment only. Booking ahead ensures the right team member and equipment are available for your assessment, consultation, or membership visit.
Location & Contact
Still have questions? Visit or contact us.
Book an assessment, ask about memberships, or get help choosing the right starting point for your goals. Benchmark is located in Burlington and supports select remote workflows for blood work and tracking.
Ready to get a clearer picture of your health?
Book your first assessment or contact Benchmark to choose the right starting point.
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