Fitness and movement

How much work the body can do, and how much it actually did. The group with the strongest evidence behind it, and the only one with a public-health target attached: the World Health Organization suggests 150 minutes of moderate activity a week.

VO₂max

Higher is better

Your watch's estimate of cardiorespiratory fitness — how much oxygen your body can use at maximum effort. An estimate, not a lab measurement.

Higher is better — cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the most consistently studied markers of long-term cardiometabolic health.

Intensity min

Higher is better

Minutes of moderate-equivalent activity, with vigorous minutes counted twice. The WHO guideline is 150 a week.

More is better up to the guideline — regular moderate activity is among the strongest levers on cardiometabolic risk.

Intensity min (moderate)

Higher is better

Minutes at moderate intensity — brisk enough to raise breathing, still able to talk.

More is better up to the guideline.

Intensity min (vigorous)

Higher is better

Minutes at vigorous intensity. Each counts as two moderate minutes toward the weekly guideline.

More is better up to the guideline.

Steps

Higher is better

Total steps counted for the day.

More is generally better — more daily steps means more movement.

Distance

Distance covered that day, from steps and any recorded activities.

Calories

Total calories burned (active + resting).

Which measurements you actually have depends on your devices and your lab results. Watches differ: an older model may never record heart-rate variability, while a newer one may not estimate VO₂max until it has recorded outdoor activity. A measurement you do not have is missing from your device, not missing from you.

Educational information — not medical advice or a diagnosis. Discuss your health with a physician.

← What we measure