If Apple watch said anything about that it's probably wrong. It can't accurately measure VO2 max.
Incidentally I got rid of mine recently. It is bliss not having one.
Also VO2 max is a crappy measure of fitness. I apparently had "average" VO2 max after a treadmill test. I can hike 50km with a 2km elevation gain in one go and not die. People with higher VO2 max I know, dropped out.
You’re not wrong. However - the Health app on the iphone (where you can view your health data) makes this VERY clear. Most people just don’t read.
I’ll quote:
“This is a measurement of your VO2 max, which is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can consume during exercise. Also called cardiorespiratory fitness, this is a useful measurement for everyone from the very fit to those managing illness.
A higher VO, max indicates a higher level of cardio fitness and endurance.
Measuring VO2 max requires a physical test and special equipment. You can also get an estimated VO, max with heart rate and motion data from a fitness tracker. Apple Watch can record an estimated VO max when you do a brisk walk, hike, or run outdoors.
VO, max is classified for users 20 and older. Most people can improve their VO, max with more intense and more frequent cardiovascular exercise.
Certain conditions or medications that limit your heart rate may cause an overestimation of your VO, max. VOz max is not validated for pregnant users. You can indicate you're taking certain medications or add a current pregnancy in Health Details.”
> hike 50km with a 2km elevation gain in one go and not die.
And thru-hikers can do this for days. It’s more related to fatigue resistance, mitochondrial density, and walking efficiency. But VO2 max still matters in high-intensity sports, you can’t ignore it when you’re pedaling a bike at high Zone 4 in a race.
Incidentally I got rid of mine recently. It is bliss not having one.
Also VO2 max is a crappy measure of fitness. I apparently had "average" VO2 max after a treadmill test. I can hike 50km with a 2km elevation gain in one go and not die. People with higher VO2 max I know, dropped out.