Apple is expanding the range of cardiorespiratory fitness that can be measured on Apple Watch. Starting today, the Health app will rate users as “high”, “above average”, “below average” or “low”. Lower levels will trigger a notification.
The watch tracks fitness with a scale called VO2 max, which is the amount of oxygen your body consumes during movement or exercise. Apple Watch was already tracking medium and high VO2 max users during exercise. This update expands the range it measures and allows users to see their levels when they are walking around, not just during a workout.
an Apple Says Tracks low ranges from VO2 max using watch sensors like heart rate monitor and accelerometer. Typically, VO2 max is calculated using specialized equipment in the laboratory while someone exercises a treadmill or other piece of equipment.
“The Apple Watch now provides an estimate of lower cardiac fitness levels from the clinics straight to the user’s wrist, so people have more insight into how to improve their long-term health through daily activity,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. Press release.
Sure, wearing the watch takes less time than going to the lab, but it might not be quite as accurate. studies Comparing Garmin and Polar smartwatches to typical lab tests found that watches tend to have a 5 percent off stop. Apple does not report how well the watch is compared to traditional VO2 Max clinical measurement methods.
