[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Believe it or not, you likely have two different ages. There’s your chronical age, based on your date of birth, and then there’s your fitness age. As the term suggests, your fitness age is based on your level of fitness compared with your chronological age.
But what’s the benefit of knowing your fitness age?
“A fitness age can predict longevity perhaps even better than your chronological age can,” according to
Aaptiv, a provider of app-based fitness programs, “and can give you a sense of how well your body is running.”
How to calculate your fitness age
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology introduced the fitness-age concept in 2013. The cornerstone of this concept is a university study that tested the fitness of more than 4,600 Norwegians between 20 and 90 years old.
Relying on the study’s findings, researchers developed an
online fitness calculator that estimates your fitness age according to your maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). According to the university, VO2max “is the most precise measure of overall cardiovascular fitness.”
To come up with your fitness age, the calculator asks about your:
- Country and city of residence.
- Ethnicity.
- Highest level of education.
- Gender.
- Age.
- Height.
- Weight.
- Maximum heart rate.
- Frequency of exercise.
- Time spent exercising.
- Intensity of exercise.
- Waistline measurement.
- Resting pulse.
The calculator then spits out your fitness age, as well as your expected fitness level according to your estimated VO2max.
In
the Norwegian study, the typical VO2max readings for adult men and women were 44 and 35, respectively. For both men and women, VO2max decreased about 7% for every 10-year increase in age.
Those with better VO2max numbers were less likely to have cardiovascular risks, heart attacks and inflammation and more likely to have improved lung function, the Norwegian researchers found.
What does your fitness age mean?
Fitness age refers to how fit you are compared with your actual age. So, if you’re 45 years old yet your fitness age is 35, that’s a good thing. But if you’re 45 years old yet your fitness age is 50, that’s not so good. With a fitness age of 35, for instance, your heart and lungs are able to move oxygen around your body like those of a 35-year-old who’s the same gender.
“Consider the fitness age value a helpful reminder that healthy choices and regular physical activity can help you feel fresh and revitalized. And remember, if your fitness age is older than your actual age, even small steps in the right direction can have a substantial impact on how you feel,” says Garmin, a maker of fitness-tracking devices (which are capable of generating your fitness age).
PAI Health, whose fitness app also can produce your fitness age, explains that your fitness age is a dynamic number that reflects your current cardiorespiratory fitness level versus other adults in your gender group.
The PAI Health app uses these factors to calculate your fitness age:
- Resting heart rate.
- Maximum heart rate.
- Age.
- Gender.
- Height.
- Weight.
How do you improve your fitness age?
Let’s say you’ve calculated your fitness age and you’re disappointed by the number that pops up. Garmin suggests taking these steps to lower your fitness age:
- Exercise regularly. Aim for at least 15 vigorous minutes of exercise in a 30-minute span, and target a heart rate that’s 70% to 85% of your maximum rate.
- Maintain a healthy weight, focusing on dietary changes in conjunction with regular exercise.
- Reduce stress.
- Avoid tobacco products.
Research conducted in 2015 by the National Senior Games Association underscores the value of working toward a lower fitness age.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="158534" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1647886071928{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/kind-breakfast-bars-8g-protein-gluten-free-dark-chocolate-cocoa"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="158533" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1647886139539{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/sprout-living-epic-organic-plant-protein-green-kingdom"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="158535" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1647886168727{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/one-a-day-mens-pro-edge-complete-multivitamin"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
