Should you track your VO2 max?
Source: economist.com
- The article questions whether people should track their VO2 max, a measure of how much oxygen your body uses during intense exercise.
- Devices like smartwatches now estimate VO2 max easily, but accuracy varies and it mainly predicts health risks for fit people.
- Tracking it might motivate some to exercise more, yet it can also discourage others if scores drop.
The article explores the trend of consumer gadgets tracking VO2 max, debating its value for everyday fitness enthusiasts. It involves scientists, athletes, and companies like Apple and Garmin that build these features into watches. The core finding is that while VO2 max reliably signals heart disease risk in healthy people, casual tracking often lacks precision and may not improve habits. Readers care because millions use these devices daily, hoping for better health insights.