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When the Whoop 5.0 and MG launched in May, a highlighted new feature was Healthspan, designed to assess how your body is aging. Initially, it was exclusive to Whoop 5.0 or MG members, but now it’s available for Whoop 4.0 users as well.
The Whoop 4.0 is still a solid tracker. The 5.0’s main advantages were its extended battery life and, until recently, the exclusive Healthspan feature. If you’re holding onto your 4.0—for instance, to use your strap collection or to avoid upgrading—this update is welcome news.
What is Healthspan?
Healthspan is a Whoop feature that calculates your “Whoop age” (younger being better) along with your “pace of aging.” For instance, if your Whoop age is 5 years younger than your actual age, that’s positive for your health.
This number is an approximation. Various wearables and health apps compute an age for you, giving points for frequent exercise and a “healthy” BMI. Oura and Garmin, for example, calculate I’m approximately 10 years younger; Ultrahuman is harsher, saying my real age matches my actual age closely. I haven’t unlocked my Whoop age yet, as it requires several weeks of data for an initial estimate.
Whoop explains that Healthspan incorporates nine key metrics:
– Sleep consistency
– Total hours of sleep
– Daily steps
– Time in heart rate zones 1-3
– Time in heart rate zones 4-5
– Time in strength activities
– Estimated VO2max
– Resting heart rate
– Estimated lean body mass
Healthspan isn’t scientifically validated. Thus, I can’t compare my Whoop-derived number to a “real” healthspan, as no such standard exists. Therefore, evaluating Whoop’s accuracy in calculating a healthspan is challenging.
I will note, somewhat cynically, that improving your healthspan involves engaging with your Whoop device more frequently. Not wearing it all day will register fewer daily steps. Not logging every strength session in the app means no credit for those. Much like Apple Watch’s “stand hours,” many health metrics also reflect your product engagement level.
When is Healthspan coming to the 4.0?
Whoop has suggested for some time that Healthspan would be available on older devices, and now a date is set. Whoop announced today that Peak members with 4.0 devices can access the Healthspan feature with a rollout starting on August 5.
Peak is the middle tier of memberships, likely the one you were automatically placed in if you own a 4.0 device and didn’t actively upgrade your membership.