When I got a notification warning on my Apple Watch about Low Cardio Fitness, I was freaked out. I’m sure everyone who has used an Apple Watch for a while has gotten this warning at some point.
Initially, I thought I had a heart-related condition until I realized what Low Cardio Fitness actually means. And so should you, to know whether you should be worried or not.
What Does Low Cardio Fitness Mean on Apple Watch?
Low Cardio Fitness Alert means that the VO2 max is low, which indicates your body’s maximum ability to consume oxygen during workouts or exercises. If VO2 is low, that means your cardiorespiratory fitness isn’t at par as it should be, considering your age and sex.
Generally, one can improve one’s Cardiofitness by doing exercises. What Apple Watch does here is remind you every 4 months that your Cardio Fitness is Low after the first notification. And a consistent reminder can be frustrating, especially when you have a workout regimen.
What Indicators Does Apple Use to Measure Cardio Fitness?
Ideally, the higher a person’s VO2 max is, the healthier they are, and vice versa. However, other factors also impact your Cardio Fitness in the Apple Watch. You see, your watch first considers a few indicators to determine what your ideal VO2 max should be, and after measuring your VO2 max for a few months, it will tell you if it is low.
Here are the indicators taken into account-
- Age
- Sex
- Weight
- Height
- Medications that may affect your HR
Now, the Apple Watch estimates your VO2 levels during an outdoor workout such as running, walking, or hiking. No push workouts are supported. All these workouts must be recorded in the Workout app for accurate measurements. For users 20 or older, Apple Watch supports a VO2 max range of 14-65 mL/kg/min.
You will now have a better idea of the basis on which your Apple Watch gives you a true or false alarm about your cardio fitness. Now let’s see if how seriously you need to take this.
Should You Be Worried?
No, whether you work out regularly or not. Worrying is the last thing you should do.
So there are two types of people in this scenario.
First, people who work out regularly and have a Low Cardio Fitness.
The Apple Watch is accurate, but it is not accurate to tell you whether you have a healthy body or not. It can give you a very general statement about your body, and each body is different and has different needs. If you’re keen on improving your Cardio Fitness score, look into what kind of workout you’re doing. Indoors or outdoors? Yoga or Dance? Apple Watch is quite inaccurate at tracking indoor treadmill runs and indoor workouts in general.
And if you are already doing outdoor runs, try to change your pace a bit, walk instead of run, and even after this, if nothing changes, then update your data-
- Go to the Health app on your iPhone.
- Go to Cardio Fitness.
- Click on Add Data.
This will take into account your recent workouts and update the scores. If even after this, you are unsatisfied with your scores, even after working out, eating, and staying healthy, it’s time to admit your Apple Watch is incapable of tracking your health holistically.
If you need some validation, not to worry, here’s a Reddit thread that will do it for you. Don’t forget to thank me later.
Second, people who do not work out regularly and have a Low Cardio Fitness.
What do I say to you? At least give me a chance to tell you that the Apple Watch isn’t that smart. But turns out a simple wearable gadget knows you don’t move your butt all day.
So, you should take it seriously and at least try to work out, eat healthy, and stay healthy. Not for the gadget’s sake but your own. And sometimes just a low score can give us motivation to move around and do something about it. So, take the Low Cardio Fitness score for its face value only and start moving your body.
Wrap Up
I hope you got the meaning behind Low Cardio Fitness on Apple Watch now. Do not worry about your health, simply stay physically active, and if you are a bit concerned, do not hesitate to visit your doctor for any doubts. Apple Watch is good at tracking your HR, steps, and other vitals, but it is not a clinically approved medical device. So, only take the numbers and scores at their face value and nothing beyond that.
