From Garmin to Apple Watch to Whoop is seems like every company is coming out with a wearable that promises more data, more insight, and increasingly large promises for what their product can do for your long-term health. But are these claims justified? In the case of VO₂max, it seems like they are overpromising and under-delivering. 

VO₂max is one of the most powerful metrics that you can measure in exercise physiology when it comes to health and performance. From elite athletes to is regular people, VO₂max is an integrated measure of how well your heart (cardiovascular system), lungs (respiratory system) and muscles (metabolic system) function.