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The research behind

The research

Mia Health is based on world-leading research from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The AQ algorithm shows how much physical activity you need to reduce your Fitness Age and improve your health.

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Based on HUNT

The health survey in Trøndelag (HUNT) is one of the world's most extensive health surveys. HUNT is an important source to knowledge about public health and developing more efficient health services in Norway. Mia Health has been developed with data from HUNT.

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Developed by CERG, NTNU

The Cardiac Exercise Research Group (CERG) at NTNU studies the effects of exercise as medicine. Mia Health's AQ and fitness age have been developed by CERG to give people effective tools to maintain the best possible health throughout their lives.

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One million participants

The health benefits of Mia Health's tools have already been documented in over 30 scientific research articles with one million participants. A number of large studies are now looking at the effect of using Mia Health in motivation and personal follow-up of physical activity.

The introduction of AQ 
(Activity Quotient)

NTNU and Mia Health have developed AQ based on research involving more than one million women and men, drawing on data that spans many decades. We claim that the world has never before seen a more accurate measure of the health benefits of physical activity.

AQ is perfectly tailored to your physical capacity. By maintaining a certain AQ over time, your body and fitness age will gradually adapt to your activity level. Your AQ can range from 0 to well over 100, depending on how active you've been.

 

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Fitness Age

Your Fitness Age tells you how old your body actually is. If your body is older than your biological age, you are less physically fit than expected for someone your age.

NTNU's research links Fitness Age to the risk of at least 20 diseases, including most cardiovascular diseases, cancer, dementia, sleep disorders and depression. In essence, the lower the Fitness Age, the lower the risk.

With an activity level of 50 AQ, you ensure that your Fitness Age over time will be at least as low as your actual age. An AQ of 100 will take you to a Fitness Age well below the age on your birth certicificate.

VO2 max

VO2 max, or maximal oxygen uptake, refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can utilize during intense or maximal exercise. This measurement is generally considered the best indicator of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance.

As VO2 max says much about the state of your lungs, heart, blood vessels and skeletal muscle, it's also one of the best indicators of overall health.

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Significant findings from the research

 

Lower risk of premature death

An AQ of 100 is linked to 75 % reduced risk of premature death compared to being physical inactive. 80 % of these benefits are reached already at an activity level corresponding to 50 AQ. A person staying at 100 AQ or above for most of his lifetime could expect to gain 13 extra years of good health.

 

Every VO2 max increase of 3,5 mL/kg/min, estimated with the NTNU formula, is linked to 15 % lower risk of premature death in men and 8 % reduced risk in women.

Lower risk of cardiovascular diseases

100 AQ is linked to up to 50 % reduced risk of most cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and angina pectoris, in men and women of all ages.

 

Every increase of 3,5 mL/kg/min in estimated VO2 max is linked to 21 % lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases in both men and women.

Lower risk for dementia

People who maintain an activity level of 50 AQ and more over time have a significantly lower risk of developing dementia over the next 25 years, and the risk of dying from or with dementia is reduced by up to 50 %. Increasing AQ over time (from below to above 50) is also associated with nearly the same benefits.

 

Every increase of 3,5 mL/kg/min in VO2 max estimated with NTNU's formula is linked to 16 % lower risk of dementia.

The rules of the new algorithm

The four main AQ principles

Low heart rate does not increase your AQ

Only exercise that contributes to improved fitness earns points. Therefore, the lower limit for earning AQ will be around 60% of maximum heart rate for most people.

The more out of breath, the higher AQ

The AQ earning rate increases as you exercise with a higher heart rate. For most people optimal AQ earnings per minute are achieved at at heart rate around 90 % of maximum.

Maximal effort is not necessary

Physiological adaptations level off before you reach maximum heart rate. Therefore, exercising to total exhaustion will not result in extra health benefits - or AQ.

Six days of rest in a row is not ideal

Achieving optimal health benefits from physical activity requires at least two active days each week. Therefore, you can earn a maximum of 65 AQ each day.