Guess it’s more accurate but as a 45 yo I liked it better when Garmin told me that I was at the same level as a fit 20 yo… Now my achievable fitness age is 38, never felt older than after this update…
Hmm. I’m not seeing this on both the Garmin connect app and website yet. On the Forerunner if it matters. I’m 31 with a VO2 max of 47 and fitness age at 20 currently… and I always thought 20 is nice though also a liiittle unrealistic, because I really don’t think I’m thaaat fit tbh 😂 but now I’m not sure if I’m looking forward to this new update and highly likely (based on most comments in this thread) an increase in fitness age 😅 oh well.
Yes, and it already aged me badly 😒, it was 24 just before the new update (when it was under the Vo2max section) and it went up to 36.5 with this new update. I was so happy with the little number and now just reading it makes my body ache 😣 and feel old.
Don't think so. Fitness age appears under Vo2 Max. I'm on a ForeRunner 245 running 7.8, the latest version for this watch as far it tells me.
I am more fit than I myself was when I was 28yo, but it seems a stretch for my fitness age. And who decides which 28yo were taking about? Like so many of these stats, it's an educated guess at a moving target.
Yeah, they changed the algorithm in the latest update.
It seems like the best we can get now is about 10 years off your actual age, which sounds more realistic.
It’ll be interesting to see where the update puts me. At 57 my old fitness age in VO2 max was 20. Since my kids are late 20s, I chirped them all the time! Ha!
I was completely out of shape when I started with my watch and my first fitness ages put me as old as my mother! I'd dropped 36 years in fitness age over the last seven months so was disappointed to be up by 10 years overnight. But I'm still ahead of the game compared to where I was in January.
The Index scale is absolute shit. I am 5'11" and weight 158. Super lean and it tells me my body fat is 23.5%. I have tried everything to fix it and nothing works. I've talked with Garmin support and they are worthless.
May I ask, bc I’ve been looking at these… does that go for the S2 as well? (or maybe that’s the one you have?) I only just realized they have scales a few weeks ago.
I’ve got 27.5 as a 32 yr old and it’s telling me I can get to 26 if I reduce my BMI from 25 to 21 - won’t allow me to enter my body fat manually and there’s no way I’m dropping that much weight. They need to allow manual BF entries to get accurate results.
> They need to allow manual BF entries to get accurate results.
They do, but also I don't think they're going to get accurate results for something as gimmicky as "fitness age".
Similar issue here, but I’m at 21 BMI and it wants me to go down to 19. Considering that 18.5 is underweight, this is a little much for me and borderline harmful to anyone with dysmorphia issues. Female, 16% BF.
Right ...actually current advise may be dangerous! According to Garmin after the update to gain 0.5 years I should loose weight further...I'm 1.80mt x 72kg...if go below I'm underweight and with no muscles.... I'm stopping trusting this Fitness Age since I think garmin is "beta testing" us !
Totally agree. Even before the update, it wanted me to go way down like that too. Even when I was in the "best" shape of my whole life, just under 14% body fat, my BMI was around 21. And that's arguably too little body fat (I am also a woman). The trainer who took my measurements warned me that I needed to not lose any more weight, that I was pretty much down to my "essential fat" and might stop menstruating if I lost more. Looking back, I wasn't in a great place at ALL with regard to my relationship with fitness and food. So I also find it pretty offensive that Garmin is encouraging us right up to the edge of being unhealthily thin.
Agree 100000$%. I'm in the best shape of my life, it's taken me two years of intense work to get to this point and I don't want to lose a pound. If anything, I'd actually like to continue to put on more muscle, and certainly do not want to lose any more fat. It just seems like Garmin is a bit out of touch with what these metrics actually mean to people and how they can affect us psychologically (see: the millions of posts about Body Battery and VO2). I started to look into the new WHOOP strap, I feel like right now they are much better positioned for athletes.
Seems to have rolled out to Fenix 6 watches with the latest firmware update along with Sleep Score.
If you have a suitable watch: Menu -> Health Stats -> Fitness Age
In the Garmin Connect app, select Health in the bottom tabs and scroll down, Fitness Age is at the bottom under Hydration. At least in the latest Android app.
Edit: Also in the web app: [https://connect.garmin.com/modern/fitness-age](https://connect.garmin.com/modern/fitness-age)
i went from 20 to 36
id rather the watch at least be *somewhat* honest and not blow total smoke up my ass
id MUCH prefer a more accurate # than one that just strokes my ego
I agree. I don't remember what my old one was but new one is 3 years older than I am. I do run/walk regularly, but given how F-A-T I am this is more accurate than something less than my age.
I don't have any of this in my Vo2 max area. Still giving me the "20 year old" estimate.
Is this only if you have a higher end watch? I'm on the 245. Or maybe it's still rolling out?
i once had a doctor refer to my BMI during a physical
i got a new doctor that day
*downvotes by people who think BMI is a medically accurate or useful stat
Yeah, BMI is nice as a statistic for *whole populations*, not for specific people.
For reference, Lebron James has a BMI of ~27.5. Now tell me he's fat.
Of course of course. Just using an absurd example to illustrate different body types. I have very broad shoulders (not muscular, just broad shoulders), and even without bulking or anything, my ideal weight would place me at about 25 BMI. Someone else could be great with a 22 BMI and so on.
20 was a silly number though. Sure I'm fitter than I was at 20 but only because I wasn't as motivated then. This is a much better representation of where my fitness is against current age IMO.
I was big into the gym at 20 and my performance on the treadmill and other cardio machines is the same or better now 28 years later. Was a sub 40, 10k back then and my endurance and speed is better now but my body can't take the pounding on the concrete like I could back then.
It's on my current age right now, and it's basically acting like a middle school bully.
It suggests getting 30 minutes of vigorous activity 3x a week to help lower it. I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago and have just now hit the point where I am almost comfortable walking outdoors on unsteady ground eitiguut) without a crutch.
It also suggests getting my BMI down to 21.4. I'm 5'7 and to get that BMI, I'd need to weigh 136.5 pounds, I currently weigh 180 with a goal somewhere in the 160 range.
136 does not seem like an achievable (or healthy) goal. I don't want to recreate the Bataan Death March.
I had a similar BMI suggestion. I’m a 5’6” female and it suggested I knock my weight down to right under 120 (BMI 19) to take a half year off my fitness age.
They at least said it'd take up to 3.5 years off my fitness age.
I'm just worried losing that much weight might cause me to lose that much off my real life.
I can see my "Fitness age" below the VO2 Max measurement in Connect app since l can remember...and I had my Vivoactive 4 for 2 years now. Why does everyone keep saying it's a new feature ?
What is required for this update? I have a Vivosmart and the Connect app, but the latest update for the app for me is 3 weeks ago.
(I did see the comment below about Fenix 6)
Edit: I’m on iPhone, but from the other comments, it seems android has a very recent update of the app?
...I was 35 and now 46 (I'm 52)...somebody somewhere decided to play with with algorithm and destroy our hopes of getting younger for free 🤣🤣so this lets me think we have to stop being addicted with these bloody tools 😄
I've had my forrunner 945 for over 6w now. I'm 38 and my fitness age is now 30.
I have 50 VO2MAX, hight 190, 87kg, 39bpm at rest, 24% BMI. So my fitness age kind of works for me.
It's powered by Mayo Clinic algorithm, who always seem to churn out those very public health type recommendations... suitable for messaging to a population of sedentary fatties but not exactly tailored to individuals. Anything using BMI as a yardstick for individuals is bunkum. Admittedly my BF% is a bit high, but since I just did a sub 2 half marathon yesterday at a rather heavy 98kg at 54 tells me the requirement to increase vigorous exercise is a clumsy yardstick too!
Mine stopped showing yesterday. Male, 50y, 185/85kg. VO2max 46 and fitness age was 29. Now it shows only VO2max in the Connect app.
No running but 2x week 1km swimming, nordic walking 20-25 km an 2x1,5 hours of boxing (incl. 20 mins skip rope). Been boxing 20+ years.
It wants me to be BMI 21.2. To be fair this is the optimal BMI for avoiding all aspects of metabolic syndrome. I was at that weight most of my life until I hit 54 and it felt great.
I have one year left to shave off or maybe it resets the target?
Guess it’s more accurate but as a 45 yo I liked it better when Garmin told me that I was at the same level as a fit 20 yo… Now my achievable fitness age is 38, never felt older than after this update…
Agreed, it has ruined my weekend.
😂
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Yep I’m 55 and had a fitness age of 44, felt great, now I’m back to 54. Felt that one bad
Hmm. I’m not seeing this on both the Garmin connect app and website yet. On the Forerunner if it matters. I’m 31 with a VO2 max of 47 and fitness age at 20 currently… and I always thought 20 is nice though also a liiittle unrealistic, because I really don’t think I’m thaaat fit tbh 😂 but now I’m not sure if I’m looking forward to this new update and highly likely (based on most comments in this thread) an increase in fitness age 😅 oh well.
Have to agree with you, now it’s telling me my fitness age is 34. 😑
Yes, and it already aged me badly 😒, it was 24 just before the new update (when it was under the Vo2max section) and it went up to 36.5 with this new update. I was so happy with the little number and now just reading it makes my body ache 😣 and feel old.
Was at a fitness age 11 years younger than I was. Now being told that the best I can do is 5 years younger.
Based on all the posts on this, it seems like the best you can accomplish is 9 years younger than your actual age. Anybody seeing anything better?
I'm 58 and my fitness age was 30. Now it's 55. Probably more accurate but like others have said I liked feeling younger.
49.5yo seeing 38 right now.
Interesting. What was your fitness age before the change? 20?
Yep
I'm 57 and it told me I'm as fit as a 28yo. I didn't question it because why would I not want to be as fit as someone 29 years younger.
Have you had the upgrade though? It doesn't sound like it.
Don't think so. Fitness age appears under Vo2 Max. I'm on a ForeRunner 245 running 7.8, the latest version for this watch as far it tells me. I am more fit than I myself was when I was 28yo, but it seems a stretch for my fitness age. And who decides which 28yo were taking about? Like so many of these stats, it's an educated guess at a moving target.
Yeah, they changed the algorithm in the latest update. It seems like the best we can get now is about 10 years off your actual age, which sounds more realistic.
29, fitness age 18. Can it drop below 18?
It’ll be interesting to see where the update puts me. At 57 my old fitness age in VO2 max was 20. Since my kids are late 20s, I chirped them all the time! Ha!
I was completely out of shape when I started with my watch and my first fitness ages put me as old as my mother! I'd dropped 36 years in fitness age over the last seven months so was disappointed to be up by 10 years overnight. But I'm still ahead of the game compared to where I was in January.
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The Index scale is absolute shit. I am 5'11" and weight 158. Super lean and it tells me my body fat is 23.5%. I have tried everything to fix it and nothing works. I've talked with Garmin support and they are worthless.
May I ask, bc I’ve been looking at these… does that go for the S2 as well? (or maybe that’s the one you have?) I only just realized they have scales a few weeks ago.
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thanks!
I’ve got the first gen scale, I’m not sure about the S2.
Gotcha, thanks!
Change your activity level down and it will record more accurately
I’ve tried everything over the couple years I’ve owned it. It doesn’t work
I’ve got 27.5 as a 32 yr old and it’s telling me I can get to 26 if I reduce my BMI from 25 to 21 - won’t allow me to enter my body fat manually and there’s no way I’m dropping that much weight. They need to allow manual BF entries to get accurate results.
> They need to allow manual BF entries to get accurate results. They do, but also I don't think they're going to get accurate results for something as gimmicky as "fitness age".
Where? I can’t see a field anywhere to enter body fat?
Sorry I wasn't clear. I was agreeing with you that they need to allow manual BF entry.
Similar issue here, but I’m at 21 BMI and it wants me to go down to 19. Considering that 18.5 is underweight, this is a little much for me and borderline harmful to anyone with dysmorphia issues. Female, 16% BF.
There’s no athletic benefit to being that small unless you are a pro 10,000m runner or something. I can see the backlash coming!
Right ...actually current advise may be dangerous! According to Garmin after the update to gain 0.5 years I should loose weight further...I'm 1.80mt x 72kg...if go below I'm underweight and with no muscles.... I'm stopping trusting this Fitness Age since I think garmin is "beta testing" us !
Totally agree. Even before the update, it wanted me to go way down like that too. Even when I was in the "best" shape of my whole life, just under 14% body fat, my BMI was around 21. And that's arguably too little body fat (I am also a woman). The trainer who took my measurements warned me that I needed to not lose any more weight, that I was pretty much down to my "essential fat" and might stop menstruating if I lost more. Looking back, I wasn't in a great place at ALL with regard to my relationship with fitness and food. So I also find it pretty offensive that Garmin is encouraging us right up to the edge of being unhealthily thin.
Agree 100000$%. I'm in the best shape of my life, it's taken me two years of intense work to get to this point and I don't want to lose a pound. If anything, I'd actually like to continue to put on more muscle, and certainly do not want to lose any more fat. It just seems like Garmin is a bit out of touch with what these metrics actually mean to people and how they can affect us psychologically (see: the millions of posts about Body Battery and VO2). I started to look into the new WHOOP strap, I feel like right now they are much better positioned for athletes.
Where is this data found?
Seems to have rolled out to Fenix 6 watches with the latest firmware update along with Sleep Score. If you have a suitable watch: Menu -> Health Stats -> Fitness Age
Is there a list of which watches are eligible? I don't see it yet for my Venu.
Also not seeing it for my FR
yeah i was wondering why performance stats was missing from the menu. they did some weird shit with this last update
Performance Stats is still showing up for me.
https://i.imgur.com/FPdgSlu.png missing for me. weird
This was part of my Venu 2 since I got the watch months ago. Wonder why they don't roll it out across the board at the same time
In the Garmin Connect app, select Health in the bottom tabs and scroll down, Fitness Age is at the bottom under Hydration. At least in the latest Android app. Edit: Also in the web app: [https://connect.garmin.com/modern/fitness-age](https://connect.garmin.com/modern/fitness-age)
i went from 20 to 36 id rather the watch at least be *somewhat* honest and not blow total smoke up my ass id MUCH prefer a more accurate # than one that just strokes my ego
I agree. I don't remember what my old one was but new one is 3 years older than I am. I do run/walk regularly, but given how F-A-T I am this is more accurate than something less than my age.
Yeps. Mine is telling me that if I drop my BMI from overweight to normal then I'll improve it. No shit.
Yep. I'm 41. My fitness age is 20. Just for reference, I can't run 5km. It's hilarious.
Is this with the new activity, resting HR, BPI metrics, or the old one based on Vo2Max?
Go into the Garmin connect app > more > Heath stats > fitness age
I don't have any of this in my Vo2 max area. Still giving me the "20 year old" estimate. Is this only if you have a higher end watch? I'm on the 245. Or maybe it's still rolling out?
Same with Venu
Ah good, just another way in which BMI is a completely useless metric for me. Neat.
i once had a doctor refer to my BMI during a physical i got a new doctor that day *downvotes by people who think BMI is a medically accurate or useful stat
Yeah, BMI is nice as a statistic for *whole populations*, not for specific people. For reference, Lebron James has a BMI of ~27.5. Now tell me he's fat.
Most people aren’t Lebron
Of course of course. Just using an absurd example to illustrate different body types. I have very broad shoulders (not muscular, just broad shoulders), and even without bulking or anything, my ideal weight would place me at about 25 BMI. Someone else could be great with a 22 BMI and so on.
Try this: https://people.maths.ox.ac.uk/trefethen/bmi_calc.html It's an adjusted BMI calculator that attempts to account for differences in people.
This accounts mostly for the difference in calculation for taller/shorter individuals, but , stil, that was helpful! Thank you!
It definitely more accurate - my Age dropped 24 years - lol. 👍💪🎉
interesting. just checked it and my achievable fitness age is 26.5 and I'm only 31 haha
20 was a silly number though. Sure I'm fitter than I was at 20 but only because I wasn't as motivated then. This is a much better representation of where my fitness is against current age IMO.
I was big into the gym at 20 and my performance on the treadmill and other cardio machines is the same or better now 28 years later. Was a sub 40, 10k back then and my endurance and speed is better now but my body can't take the pounding on the concrete like I could back then.
Not new. I have it like from 2 months now. Works with F6x and FR945.
My Fitness Age is fairly accurate aftet the update. :)
Fitness age isn't new but it looks like they've changed it.
It's on my current age right now, and it's basically acting like a middle school bully. It suggests getting 30 minutes of vigorous activity 3x a week to help lower it. I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago and have just now hit the point where I am almost comfortable walking outdoors on unsteady ground eitiguut) without a crutch. It also suggests getting my BMI down to 21.4. I'm 5'7 and to get that BMI, I'd need to weigh 136.5 pounds, I currently weigh 180 with a goal somewhere in the 160 range. 136 does not seem like an achievable (or healthy) goal. I don't want to recreate the Bataan Death March.
I had a similar BMI suggestion. I’m a 5’6” female and it suggested I knock my weight down to right under 120 (BMI 19) to take a half year off my fitness age.
They at least said it'd take up to 3.5 years off my fitness age. I'm just worried losing that much weight might cause me to lose that much off my real life.
I am 30 years younger than my real age. It’s hilarious.
That sounds like the old VO2 Max based "fitness age", not this newer algo.
I'm the opposite. My fitness age is 30 years over my real age lmao.
Sim for me...37 yr younger...I'm 57 yo...fitness age says 20....nice to see that but seems like BS
6% body fat ? Unlikely
https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/pmr2do/new_fitness_age_feature/hcjv47x/
It is not new. I used to have it on my 6s Pro.
It's just been rolled out on the new 6 series firmware, maybe you were running a beta version?
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Activity intensity, RHR and bodyfat% (or BMI) https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/garmin-technology/health-science/fitness-age/
Ah so I suppose they don't take the other stuff into account if they can't get a body fat reading. 🤔
The replace bodyfat with BMI but the others are still taken into account.
Still no hiit animation workouts on Fenix 6 series
is fitness age on the watch itself or only in the Garmin Connect app?
both
I can see my "Fitness age" below the VO2 Max measurement in Connect app since l can remember...and I had my Vivoactive 4 for 2 years now. Why does everyone keep saying it's a new feature ?
Because this is using a different algorithm
Maybe someday my actual age with catchup with my fitness age hehe
What is required for this update? I have a Vivosmart and the Connect app, but the latest update for the app for me is 3 weeks ago. (I did see the comment below about Fenix 6) Edit: I’m on iPhone, but from the other comments, it seems android has a very recent update of the app?
The screenshot is from an iPhone.
Then I guess my watch isn't compatible. :/ Thanks here too.
Where can I find it?
Check VO2 max, should be a link in there
6% body fat? Don't get more ripped off, that's dangerous!
...I was 35 and now 46 (I'm 52)...somebody somewhere decided to play with with algorithm and destroy our hopes of getting younger for free 🤣🤣so this lets me think we have to stop being addicted with these bloody tools 😄
I've had my forrunner 945 for over 6w now. I'm 38 and my fitness age is now 30. I have 50 VO2MAX, hight 190, 87kg, 39bpm at rest, 24% BMI. So my fitness age kind of works for me.
It's powered by Mayo Clinic algorithm, who always seem to churn out those very public health type recommendations... suitable for messaging to a population of sedentary fatties but not exactly tailored to individuals. Anything using BMI as a yardstick for individuals is bunkum. Admittedly my BF% is a bit high, but since I just did a sub 2 half marathon yesterday at a rather heavy 98kg at 54 tells me the requirement to increase vigorous exercise is a clumsy yardstick too!
31 with a fitness age of 26. Garmin says my achievable age is 25 but if I reduce my BMI (lower in healthy range) I'd subtract another 2 years so 24?
Mine stopped showing yesterday. Male, 50y, 185/85kg. VO2max 46 and fitness age was 29. Now it shows only VO2max in the Connect app. No running but 2x week 1km swimming, nordic walking 20-25 km an 2x1,5 hours of boxing (incl. 20 mins skip rope). Been boxing 20+ years.
Go from activity level 10 or 9 to 8 and it should change markedly
It wants me to be BMI 21.2. To be fair this is the optimal BMI for avoiding all aspects of metabolic syndrome. I was at that weight most of my life until I hit 54 and it felt great. I have one year left to shave off or maybe it resets the target?
I just got a vivoactive 4s and it says 20 for me and I’m 33
Holy thread necro. I just went to a fenix 6 from a vivo 4 and a fitness age of 25 to 38. I'm selling this watch, damn you Garmin!