Apple has introduced cardio fitness level monitoring to the Apple Watch as part of watchOS 7.2 and iOS 14.3, with users able to receive a notification when they fall within the low range.
The Apple Watch will now measure low cardio levels and empower users to make changes to their lifestyles, allowing them to benefit from improved cardiovascular health.
Apple looks at VO2 max – that is the amount of oxygen the body can use during exercise – to determine the performance of a user and offer recommendations to help them improve performance.
Combining the heart sensor, GPS, accelerometer, and VO2 max, Apple Watch can measure cardio fitness as users walk throughout the day, whether they’re on a treadmill or off to the office, and then alert users if it thinks changes should be made to workouts and exercise.
Speaking of the new service, Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, said: “Cardio fitness is increasingly recognized as a powerful predictor of overall health, and with today’s update to watchOS 7, we are making it even more accessible to more people.
“Using its advanced sensors, Apple Watch now brings estimation of low cardio fitness levels from clinics directly to a user’s wrist, so people have more insight into how they can improve their long-term health through daily activity.”
“American Heart Association science associates low cardiorespiratory fitness levels with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. The American Heart Association is focused on helping all people equitably achieve longer, healthier lives, and we believe that emerging technology solutions can empower individuals to manage their own health,” added Nancy Brown, American Heart Association CEO.
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