Logging into a 20-minute, high-intensity outdoor run workout once a week will help to increase your VO2 Max.
Calculating VO2max from heart rate data on fitness trackers & smartwatches
What is this? So Apple's predicted VO2 max, or for that matter, Garmin or any other fitness tracker, may not be very accurate. Research has shown that Fitbit and other wearable trackers have accuracy issues when measuring heart rate and related metrics for darker skin tone.
On Apple Watch Series 3 or later, the system automatically saves vo2Max samples to HealthKitHealthKitHealthKit provides a central repository for health and fitness data on iPhone and Apple Watch. With the user's permission, apps communicate with the HealthKit store to access and share this data.. The watch estimates the user's VO2max based on data gathered while the user is walking or running outdoors.
Clinical tests measure VO2max by having the patient exercise on a treadmill or bike, with an intensity that increases every few minutes until exhaustion. On Apple Watch Series 3 or later, the system automatically saves vo2Max samples to HealthKitHealthKitHealthKit provides a central repository for health and fitness data on iPhone and Apple Watch. With the user's permission, apps communicate with the HealthKit store to access and share this data..
How to View Your VO2 Max. If you want to check your latest VO2 max measurements or see how it's changed over time, open the “Health” app, tap “Browse,” then “Heart,” and finally, “Cardio Fitness.”
Relative VO2 max is expressed as a number between 14 and 60 with Apple Watch/iPhone and represents the amount of milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight (mL/kg/min).
With watchOS 7, Apple Watch Series 3 and later use an updated algorithm to estimate a user's cardio fitness level as measured by VO2 max, the maximum volume of oxygen an individual can extract from inhaled air. This update extends VO2 max estimates to lower ranges while also expanding availability of this metric.
Cardio fitness on Apple Watch is an estimation of a user's VO2 max in ml/kg/min, made based on measuring a user's heart rate response to physical activity.
VO2 max set up
Are VO2 Max Calculations accurate on fitness trackers? The relationship between heart rate and VO2 Max is not precise, and it varies from one individual to another. For example, it depends upon factors when the heart rate was measured.
Apple Watch supports a VO2 max range of 14-60 mL/kg/min that is validated for users 20 years or older. To estimate your cardio fitness level, your Apple Watch also takes into account your: Age. Sex.