Apple Watch will send you alerts if it thinks you are unfit

The Apple Watch will send users alerts warning them if they are unfit as it expands the smartwatch’s health tracking capabilities.

A software update will add a cardio fitness reading to the Apple Watch, after the device recently expanded the range at which the device can measure how fit wearers are. If users fall into a “low” fitness level, representing the bottom fifth of the population for their age, the device will send them an alert encouraging them to exercise more regularly.

It comes as Apple makes a new push into health and fitness with its Fitness+ service, which streams exercise classes over the internet and links to an Apple Watch to show workout statistics. 

The Apple Watch already tracks VO2 Max, a measure of how much oxygen one can consume during intense exercise, which is seen as an indicator of respiratory fitness.  A recent update made the reading more accurate by automatically measuring it during low-intensity exercise such as walking.

A software update on Monday, watchOS 7.2, will assess how fit wearers are for their age and sex, putting them in one of four groups — high, above average, below average, or low — based on their VO2 Max level.

How the data will look on the iPhone

The ranges are based on a medical database of average fitness levels for each age group of the general population, not based on Apple Watch data. The alert for falling into the “low” range, below the 20th percentile of people, will give advice on improving fitness levels and talking to a doctor. People will only receive the alerts every four months, to avoid being bombarded with fitness notifications. 

The Apple Watch uses its heart rate sensor, combined with GPS and other movement data to provide an estimate of VO2 Max using an algorithm.

Apple’s Fitness+, which will launch on Monday, will cost £9.99 a month. People will be able to stream fitness classes on their iPad, iPhone or Apple TV.

Apple has added health features to the wearable device in recent years, including the ability to detect irregular heart rhythms and low blood oxygen levels.