How to Track METs on Apple Watch: The Secret Metric for Longevity

Keywords: AppleWatch Tips, Longevity, MET Goals, Heart Health, Quantified Self

If you follow Longevity science, you know VO2 Max. But VO2 Max is hard to test daily. MET, however, is a metric you generate every minute.

Studies show that people who can sustain higher MET activities have significantly lower all-cause mortality rates.

The Apple Watch Gap

Apple Watch hardware is powerful, but its native "Activity Rings" are oversimplified:

• Active Calories: Heavily biased by body weight.
• Exercise Minutes: Brisk walking and slow strolling both count, lacking nuance.

Apple Watch actually calculates MET data in the background, but hides it deep in HealthKit.

MET Goals: Unlocking the Data

MET Goals is a 3rd-party app designed to fix this. It does three things:

1. Visualization: Pulls hidden MET data into a clear dashboard.
2. Weekly Focus: Unlike daily rings that reset, MET Goals tracks your Weekly 7.5 MET·h. Missed Monday? Make it up on Tuesday. This flexibility prevents "streak anxiety."
3. Complications: See your real-time MET intensity right on your watch face.

If you want to turn your Apple Watch from a "Notifier" into a "Health Coach," start tracking METs.