With the latest launch of watchOS 7.2 and iOS 14.3 On Apple Watch and iPhone, Apple has introduced a new Cardio Fitness feature that allows you to track your health in a more informative way.
If you think it’s just another setting that shows your heart rate during your workout, then you’re terribly wrong. Cardio Fitness acts as an indicator of your overall physical health. It can even predict your long-term health and suggest ways you can improve it.
After the latest update, Apple Watch users can now view their cardio fitness level and receive a notification if it drops to a low range.
According to Jeff Williams, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, estimating low cardio fitness levels will enable users to “better understand how to improve their long-term health through daily activities.”
The American Heart Association has also stated that in some cases, consistently low cardio fitness levels can ultimately lead to greater health risks, including but not limited to heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity.
Apple’s Cardio Fitness now classifies users as ‘high’, ‘above average’, ‘below average’ or ‘low’.
Apple Watch Cardio Fitness: How Does It Work?
The new Cardio Fitness feature tracks users through a metric called VO2 max, which estimates the maximum amount of oxygen your body uses. With the latest update, users can now estimate their VO2 max not only while performing an intense workout, but also while walking around.
With watchOS 7, those with an Apple Watch Series 3 or later can get a direct reading of their VO2 max score. It’s a feature that was available on plenty of other fitness trackers and sports watches, so it’s good to see VO2 Max on the Apple Watch.
Set up Cardio Fitness on Apple Watch
- First of all, make sure that both your iPhone and Apple Watch are updated to iOS 14.3 and watchOS 7.2, otherwise you won’t be able to access the feature.
- Open the Apple Health app on your iPhone and tap “Browse” then “Heart”.
- Under Cardio Fitness Levels you should see a blue adjustment button.
- Follow the steps and fill in your health information.
- Turn on “Low Cardio Fitness Notifications” to receive alerts on your Apple Watch.
- You should now be able to see Cardio Fitness set up in the Health app.