POLAR BODYAGE SYSTEM SW HELP
About the Polar BodyAge System
About the BodyAge Score
The BodyAge score is an integral part of the Polar BodyAge
®
System and software developed by
Polar. The instruments used to calculate the BodyAge score are validated and published in their
respective fields and are listed on the following pages. All normative and percentile ranking
references are listed in the technical references. BodyAge simplifies fitness test results into one
number that the non-professional can understand. Using BodyAge has been shown to increase
motivation levels of clients and increase exercise compliance.
Calculation of BodyAge
The BodyAge calculation is based on a population of 6,469 apparently healthy 18-79 year-old
men and women. Low levels of cardiovascular fitness and elevated blood pressure levels have
been shown to increase the risk of premature death; therefore, they are weighted more heavily in
the calculation. This results in more years being added or taken away from the BodyAge score
depending on each test result. Assessments that affect quality of life rather than longevity, such
as flexibility and strength, are weighted slightly less. A minimum of four assessments must be
taken in order to calculate BodyAge. Two of the four assessments must be strength, flexibility,
cardiovascular or body composition assessments. The other two can be any of the other
assessments: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL, body
composition, cardiovascular, flexibility or strength.
The Polar BodyAge in the Unites States
Since its introduction in 2001, Polar BodyAge
®
System has been implemented and adopted by
over 900 health and fitness centers, major universities and corporations in the United States. A
partial list of customers include: United Parcel Service (UPS), United States Air Force,
Department of Education, Department of Defense, PGA West, Ford Motor Company, Gold’s
Gym, Wal-Mart, US Marines, Boeing International, YMCA, Lifetime Fitness, Pepperdine
University and Florida State University.
The Polar BodyAge System in Europe
The Polar BodyAge
®
System was released in Germany under the name Polar OwnTest
TM
System
in 2004. Before that time a pilot study was done by a German based research organization, LINK
Institute, to evaluate the effectiveness of the system in the European market. An overview of the
study design, results and conclusions are listed below.
Target and Study Design
1
