VO₂ Max: The #1 longevity metric is now on your wrist, thanks to whoop! But is it accurate? And does it actually matter? 🧐👇🏽 VO₂ Max—your maximal oxygen uptake—is the strongest independent predictor of all-cause mortality. Research shows that every 3.5 ml/kg/min increase in VO₂ Max reduces your risk of death by ~13% (Kodama et al., JAMA, 2009). Another study found that people with elite VO₂ Max levels had an 80% lower risk of death compared to those with low fitness (Mandsager et al., JAMA Netw Open, 2018). Now, Whoop estimates your VO₂ Max using: 1) Heart rate response to exertion 2) Recovery HR (how fast your heart rate drops post-workout) 3) Resting HR, strain scores, and activities like running or cycling 4) Plus age, weight, and gender Is it a gold-standard lab test? No. But for the 95% of people who’ll never do a VO₂ Max test, this makes it accessible, actionable, and incredibly useful. But here’s where it gets even better: VO₂ Max training is stressful by nature....