Recently, I came across this video posted by Bryan Johnson, the tycoon well-known for his attempt to defy aging, in which he presents a 7-test method to “Test your biological age”. The tests gauge your strength, flexibility, mobility, reflexes and balance. They are simple to do and reflect on your “Healthspan”, which according to some studies correlates with Lifespan.
While the video also has a freely downloadable excel sheet with details of each test and the scoring method, I thought it would be cool if I could create a sort of fitness calculator based on these tests. So I created this calculator where you input your result for each test and the automatically get the corresponding score based on your age and gender. Do try it and let me know how it goes. The calculator does not save any data so be rest assured your scores are not being recorded.
Here’s the link to the original video: https://youtu.be/veJzV8iA6gg?si=PBDCQAwWCMvEnhS1
Keep in mind that although the video touts itself as a way to measure your biological age (versus your chronological age), there are not many wide-scale studies to confirm the correlations between these scores and aging. One study I came across, showed longer telomere lengths (another putative measure of longevity), with better overall fitness in adults older than 65 years. Specifically, the paper found that “greater walking distance and chair test performance, but not grip strength, are cross-sectionally associated with longer telomeres”.
Nevertheless, it is commonly accepted that physical and mental fitness correlate well with Quality of Life and people you are fitter till later in their lives can potentially live a longer, healthier life. Common sense indicates that it may not be a bad idea to keep fit.
With this in mind, do take the “Biological Age” number in the calculator with a pinch of salt. While it does indicate if your fitness is better, worse or average for your age, the number is derived from group-wise ranges for each test. Thus, the calculator estimates your age group rather than exact age.
I have made a few changes to the calculations presented in the video. Below are the changes and my justifications for the same:
- I changed the scale used for the One-Leg Standing Test.
- In the video, the test is conducted with eyes closed and when I checked the reference provided, I found that the primary data used for the scales are not convincing. The numbers for each group were very few and moreover, there were no clear data for the test with eyes closed. On researching some more, I found a research article published by the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D. C, in which they actually present robust data on the test with different age groups, both with eyes open and eyes closed. I used these scales for the calculations.
- I changed the units for the Grip Test from lbs to kgs as they are more relevant to us in India. However, if you want to use the calculator with lbs, just multiply your result by 0.4536 to get the corresponding number in kgs, which you can then input.
Of course, remember these scores are not static. They are meant to be a reflection of your current status and not set in stone. You can use the numbers as a gauge to improve or keep on track with your fitness goals. Wishing you a Life in Balance.
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