What is your fitness age - it's different from chronological age

Every one knows about chronological age however fitness age - a concept measured by cardiovascular endurance is new to many people. A study found that fitness age is better predictor of longevity of age than chronological age. Another good thing about fitness age is it can be reduced.

Fitness age is determined by VO2max that gives a measure of body’s ability to take oxygen in and utilize it. Fitness age can be compared with other persons. If your VO2max is lower than other people in your age group, it indicates your fitness age is older than your actual age. But you can turn clock back and get younger fitness age. It means with age of 40 one can have fitness of age between 30 and 60 depending on his VO2max.

A study found that people who have their fitness age significantly above their chronological age have 82% higher risk of dying prematurely than those whose fitness age was same or younger than their actual age. This suggests that fitness age is better predictor of early death’s risk than traditional factors like overweight, blood pressure or smoking.

Good thing about fitness age is it can be altered as Ulrik Wisloff - professor at the K.G. Jebsen Center for Exercise in Medicine at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology - advises if your fitness age exceeds your actual age, you can bring it down, “Just Exercise”.