Can Fitbit Measure VO2 Max aka Cardio Fitness?

What Even Is VO2 Max?

So by name it might be giving you feeling of some twisted medical term, but in reality it’s very easy to understand. VO2 Max is basically a measurement which is taken to check how well your body uses the oxygen when you are working at an extreme limit. The rule of thumb says the higher the number of your VO2 Max score the better state of your cardiovascular health.

Above shown graph clearly depicts how VO2 Max level falls with the age as well as how genders affect the score. We should also take note from the value how decline is similar in both genders.

How To Measure VO2 Max On Fitbit Trackers?

Usually VO2 Max is calculated in a controlled environment. Like a lab on a treadmill or stationary bike (like that of Peloton) and there you will be tested under extreme condition with mask attached to your face to make note how are you exhaling and inhaling. However, to get a general estimate, your Fitbit tracker is more than able to give you the needed insights.

So, if you want to see your cardiovascular fitness (VO2 Max) score on the Fitbit. This is what you need to do:

• Open the Fitbit app and navigate to the “Today” tab.
• Tap on the “Heart Rate” tile.
• At the top of the screen, you’ll see a heart-rate graph.
• Swipe the graph to switch to the cardio fitness graph, which displays your cardio fitness score (VO2 Max) and cardio fitness level.
• For additional details, tap the arrow in the top right corner to access more information.

How Does Fitbit Calculate VO2 Max Score?

Now this is a million dollar question. Because we know the way Fitbit calculates the VO2 Max score is not how it should be done, so there has to be something else that Fitbit does that we don’t know truly.

Well, there is, and in this case it is a predefined algorithm that Fitbit has crafted to calculate your VO2 Max score. So if you were thinking there would’ve been some special sensor in Fitbit smartwatch to measure your Cardio Fitness you couldn’t be more wrong. All Fitbit needs to grade your cardiovascular health is these following metrics: resting heart rate, age, sex, weight, and other personal information.

Therefore, it is very important that you always put correct information in your Fitbit profile as well as keep an eye to update it timely. Not to mention to increase the efficiency of result you should always keep the GPS open. As well as make sure you have your Fitbit tracker on you when you sleep at night. This will both ensure a good sleep score and better VO2 Max conclusion.

What Do The Cardio Fitness (VO2 Max) Represent?

On your Fitbit there will be six levels. The lowest of which is called the ‘poor‘ and the highest is ‘excellent.’

However, in general this is oversimplification of the results, in reality the VO2 Max is little too difficult to condense using only adjectives. Although, given we’ve established Fitbit only gives estimation and not accurate value I guess we can let ignore it for now. Not to mention Apple Watches & VO2 Max also suffer from the same issue.

How Do I Get Accurate Estimate Of My Score?

There are few things you can do to better the accuracy of Fitbit’s finding the most important of which is the usage of GPS on your Fitbit tracker. Now, we know that only after Fitbit Versa 3 GPS became the norm for Fitbit smartwatches, but here is what you need to know: Even in Fitbit Versa 2 or trackers before it if your Fitbit will be connected to mobile they can use the GPS of the said phone.

Another thing to keep in mind is that certain Fitbit modes like Water Lock and Treadmill can result in deactivation of GPS so make sure your Fitbit is not under the influence of these. Otherwise your VO2 Max score will be presented in range and not absolute value.

Fitbit also recommends that you run on flat terrain for at least 10 minutes. This way they are able to use both pace and heart rate to make a better decision. Also run at a faster pace if you’re able to do so. You don’t have to run at maximum speed but higher-intensity runs provide a more accurate estimate. Complete multiple runs to help improve accuracy.

All of these little things can lead to compounding affect where your VO2 Max score can greatly move towards accurate level.

Easy Way To Improve Cardio Fitness Score!

There are many ways through which you can work on yourself to improve your Cardio Fitness. Some of them we’ve listed down below for you to understand and hopefully implement in your lifestyle:

Exercise: Engaging in regular exercise is crucial for improving cardio fitness. By increasing your physical activity, you can enhance your cardio fitness level. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, or a combination of both, to boost overall cardiovascular health.

Healthy weight loss: Lowering body fat percentage through healthy weight loss can positively impact your cardio fitness score. However, it is vital to ensure you are far away from the unhealthy weight loss, which leads to a reduction in muscle mass.

“I Can’t See My VO2 Max Score In Fitbit App?”

If you can’t view your cardio fitness stats in Fitbit Today, consider the following tips:

• Ensure you have worn your Fitbit device for at least 1 to 2 days. For more accurate results, wear the device while sleeping to get a better estimate of your resting heart rate.
• To obtain a score based on running, try completing multiple GPS runs with your device.
• While on a GPS run, make sure you are wearing your Fitbit device correctly to ensure accurate measurements.

By the way you can also see your progress in your Fitbit tracker too. You don’t need to have your mobile phone every time. Just swipe up on the clock face to open Fitbit Today. Swipe left on the heart rate tile to see your cardio fitness stats.

Note: If you are not sure which icon is of clock face feel free to check out Fitbit Symbols post!