You exercise regularly. But do you know your VO2 max?
People in the bottom fitness quartile have roughly 4x the mortality risk of those in the top. That gap is larger than smoking or cholesterol — and almost no health screen in Singapore measures it. A wearable estimate is not the same as a clinical test.
Does this sound familiar?
You think you’re fit. But you’ve never had a number to prove it.
- You run, cycle, or train 3+ times a week — but you’ve never had your cardiorespiratory fitness objectively measured
- You’ve seen your Garmin or Apple Watch VO2 max estimate and wondered how accurate it really is
- You’ve read that VO2 max predicts longevity — and you want to know where you actually stand
Feeling fit and being fit are not the same thing. The question is what the data actually shows — and whether your fitness is moving in the right direction year on year.
Why VO2 max matters
The most powerful longevity biomarker most people have never tested.
Large prospective studies tracking tens of thousands of patients over years consistently find the same result: people in the bottom fitness quartile for their age have roughly 4x the mortality risk of those in the top quartile.
To put that in context: having a low VO2 max may be a bigger risk factor for early death than smoking.
Moving from the lowest fitness quintile to the second-lowest is associated with a larger reduction in mortality risk than almost any other clinical intervention studied. VO2 max is not a luxury metric for athletes — it is a fundamental health marker for everyone.
“VO2 max is not a measure of how fit you look. It is a measure of how efficiently your heart, lungs, and muscles work together — and that efficiency predicts a great deal about what comes next.”
A useful way to think about it: to be functionally independent in your 80s — able to climb stairs, carry groceries, get up from the floor — you need to work backwards from those physical requirements. Because VO2 max declines roughly 10% per decade, a 45-year-old who wants to maintain functional independence at 85 needs a VO2 max significantly higher than what most people that age currently have.
This reframes the question. VO2 max is not just an athletic metric. It is a measure of how much physiological reserve you are building — or losing — right now.
How AMG measures VO2 max
The Bruce Protocol — not a wearable estimate.
We use the Bruce Protocol — a maximal treadmill test in which speed and incline increase at set intervals until you reach volitional exhaustion or a symptom-limited endpoint. Total time on the treadmill is used to calculate estimated VO2 max via a validated regression equation.
The Bruce Protocol is one of the most widely studied exercise testing protocols in clinical and sports science research, and produces results that are directly comparable to published longevity threshold data.
Unlike metabolic cart testing, the Bruce Protocol does not require blood sampling during the test — making it more comfortable and sustainable as an annual assessment, particularly for non-athletes coming for a preventive health screen rather than sports performance testing.
All Bruce Protocol VO2 max values are estimates derived from performance equations rather than direct expired gas measurement. For annual preventive screening and longitudinal tracking, this level of precision is clinically appropriate and sufficient.
Read the full clinical picture: VO2 Max: Why Fitness May Predict Long-Term Health Better Than You Think
Reference ranges
What is a good VO2 max for your age?
| Age group | Below average | Average | Above average | Optimal for longevity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men 35–44 | < 35 | 35–42 | 43–50 | > 50 |
| Men 45–54 | < 32 | 32–38 | 39–46 | > 46 |
| Women 35–44 | < 28 | 28–34 | 35–41 | > 41 |
| Women 45–54 | < 25 | 25–31 | 32–38 | > 38 |
Values in ml/kg/min. These are general guides — your doctor interprets your result in the context of your full health profile.
At AMG, we assess where you sit relative to age- and sex-adjusted longevity research thresholds — and track your trajectory year on year, so you can see whether your cardiovascular fitness is improving, holding, or declining.
The Advantage VITAL Longevity Screen
Two options. One recommendation for you.
AMG offers both standard health screening and the VITAL Longevity Screen. For patients who want their cardiorespiratory fitness clinically measured alongside a complete metabolic and cardiovascular assessment, we recommend the VITAL Screen.
- VO2 max — Bruce Protocol treadmill — clinical measurement benchmarked against longevity thresholds
- DEXA body composition — visceral fat, lean mass, bone density
- Grip strength + 30s sit-to-stand — validated functional longevity predictors
- Lp(a) + ApoB — cardiovascular risk markers not in routine panels
- HOMA-IR + fasting insulin — insulin resistance detected a decade early
- hsCRP + homocysteine — chronic inflammation markers
- Full hormonal panel — testosterone, SHBG, DHEAS, oestradiol
- 60-minute physician consultation — results interpreted together, plan built with you
AMG is one of the few GP clinics in Singapore that includes clinical VO2 max testing in a structured longevity assessment — with the same doctor reviewing your results each year.
You leave with a written Now / Next / Later priority plan. And you see the same doctor every time.
Pricing
Both tiers include every VITAL marker, your full consultation, and your personalised plan.
- 70+ biomarkers across all 5 VITAL pillars
- VO2 max (Bruce Protocol) + DEXA + grip strength
- Lp(a), ApoB, HOMA-IR, hsCRP, hormones
- 60-minute physician consultation
- Now / Next / Later plan
- Everything in Core
- Lucense 6-marker multi-cancer blood test
- Screens for early signals of 6 cancer types
- Same visit — no extra appointment
Standard health screening
Not ready for the VITAL Screen?
AMG also offers standard health screening packages — a good starting point for general health.
- Core blood panel, lipid profile & HbA1c
- Kidney, liver & hepatitis screen
- Full blood count & iron studies
- Thyroid (TSH, FT4) & HSCRP
- 6 cancer markers (gender-specific)
- Everything in Foundation
- Apolipoprotein A, B & ApoB/A1 ratio
- Hs-troponin
- Vitamin B12 & folate
- Helicobactor & stool occult blood
- Everything in Dynamic
- ECG
- Ultrasound scans (abdomen + prostate / breast + pelvis)
- Hormone panel (testosterone / female hormones)
- HPV Pap smear (women)
These packages are a good starting point. If you want your fitness clinically measured, ask your doctor whether the VITAL Screen is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can feel fit without being fit. Know your number.
VO2 max. DEXA body composition. 70+ blood markers. One morning, one visit — reviewed by a physician who builds your plan with you.
Find the right screen for you.
Upload accepts most report formats — PDF, scans, photos. Or WhatsApp us directly →
Pilot programme. If the assistant ever falls short, you’ll be routed to our clinical team. You can also book a consultation with a doctor before committing to a screen.
Back to the VITAL Longevity Screen hub →
Educational content. Not medical advice.