Vitality Capacity
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What Does Vitality Capacity Reveal About Your Health?
Vitality Capacity is your body’s overall physiological resilience; the reserve that keeps you going. Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), as a physiological state resulting from the interaction of multiple systems, reflected in the level of energy and metabolism, neuromuscular function, and immune and stress response functions of the body.1,2
In simpler terms, it combines your energy and metabolism, muscular strength and endurance, and your ability to handle stress or illness. 1,2 Vitality capacity underlies all other domains of intrinsic capacity; the WHO framework for healthy aging, including locomotor, cognitive, psychological, and sensory capacities.1
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How Does Eforto® Measure Your Vitality Capacity?
Vitality Capacity is composed of three interconnected domains that together form the foundation of your physiological resilience:1-3
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Energy & Metabolism: reflects how efficiently your body produces and uses energy.1
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Neuromuscular Function: represents your muscular strength and endurance.2,3
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Immune & Stress Response: indicates how well your body adapts to challenges like inflammation or illness.4,5
These domains, first defined by WHO, have been validated and form the foundation of your physiological resilience.1
Essentially, your vitality capacity is your “reserve tank”; the physiological backup that supports health and independence as you age.1-3
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How to Interpret Your Vitality Capacity Score?
The Eforto app categorizes your score into three “traffic light” zones for easy interpretation:Men:
Women:
CPV Score Interpretation: Vitality Capacity Levels
Normal (Green): Indicates healthy vitality. Strong energy, endurance, and resilience for daily life. Supports healthy aging and low fatigue.
At Risk (Yellow): Below-average vitality. Early signs of fatigue or reduced reserves. Focus on fitness and healthy habits to prevent decline.
Very Low (Red): Low vitality capacity. May include muscle weakness, fatigue, or slow recovery. Linked to higher illness and hospitalization risk. Immediate lifestyle or medical interventions are recommended.
Eforto® interpretation informed by clinical studies on fatigue and inflammation.1-5 -
Why You Should Be Concerned If You’re in the Low Zone?
Maintaining strong Vitality Capacity is vital for healthy longevity. A low vitality score doesn’t just mean fatigue. It indicates a real loss of the body’s physiological reserve.1,2
Studies show that declining vitality often precedes frailty, meaning early muscle weakness and exhaustion can appear years before disability.2,3 Low vitality is also linked with chronic inflammation, higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6, and increased vulnerability to illness and hospitalization.4,5,7
Conversely, individuals with higher vitality have stronger immune responses, lower inflammation, and better recovery from illness. Tracking this capacity allows early detection and prevention of age-related decline, helping you stay independent and resilient.5-7
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How to Improve Your Vitality Capacity Score?
The good news: Vitality Capacity is modifiable; you can improve it through consistent healthy habits.
Here’s how:8-14
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Strength Training: Weightlifting and resistance exercises build muscle and boost neuromuscular function.
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Aerobic Activity: Brisk walking, cycling, or swimming improves endurance and energy metabolism.
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Anti-inflammatory Diet: Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 to reduce inflammation and improve energy.
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Quality Sleep: 7–9 hours of deep sleep enhances recovery and immune function.
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Stress Management: Mindfulness, yoga, and social engagement help maintain a healthy stress response.
Research shows regular exercise can slow or reverse age-related decline in muscle and energy metabolism; meaning it’s never too late to strengthen your vitality.2,3
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When to Talk to Your Doctor?
While tracking your vitality on your own is beneficial, some situations require medical evaluation. You should consult your doctor if:
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Your Eforto scores remain very low or drop sharply.
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You experience unintentional weight loss, persistent exhaustion, or reduced ability to perform daily activities.
These symptoms may point to underlying conditions such as malnutrition, anemia, hormonal imbalance, or early frailty. Sharing your Eforto results with your healthcare provider helps them assess your grip strength, fatigue, and endurance objectively.4-7
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List of References:
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Bautmans, I., Knoop, V., Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan, J., Maier, A.B., Beard, J.R. and Freiberger, E., 2022. WHO working definition of vitality capacity for healthy longevity monitoring. Lancet Healthy Longev, 3(11): e789–e96.
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Simonsick, E.M., Schrack, J.A., Glynn, N.W. and Ferrucci, L., 2014. Assessing fatigability in mobility‐intact older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 62(2), pp.347-351.
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Knoop, V., Costenoble, A., Debain, A., Bravenboer, B., Jansen, B., Scafoglieri, A., Bautmans, I.; Gerontopole Brussels Study Group. 2023. Muscle Endurance and Self-Perceived Fatigue Predict Decline in Gait Speed and Activities of Daily Living After 1-Year Follow-Up: Results From the BUTTERFLY Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 78(8):1402-1409.
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Mets, T., Bautmans, I., Njemini, R., Lambert, M. and Demanet, C., 2004. The influence of celecoxib on muscle fatigue resistance and mobility in elderly patients with inflammation. The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, 2(4), pp.230-238.
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Hoekstra, C., Swart, M., Bautmans, I., Melis, R., Peeters, G., 2023. Association between Muscle Fatigability, Self-Perceived Fatigue and C-Reactive Protein at Admission in Hospitalized Geriatric Patients. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 20(16):6582.
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De Dobbeleer, L., Swart, M.M., Geerds, M.A.J., Baggen, R.J., Jansen, A.J.S., Tielemans, R., Silva, H., Lieten, S., Barbé, K., Peeters, G. and Vollenbroek-Hutten, M.M.R., 2023. Validity and reliability of Eforto®, a system to (self-) monitor grip strength and muscle fatigability in older persons. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 35(4), pp.835-845.
- Izquierdo, M., de Souto Barreto, P., Arai, H., Bischoff-Ferrari, H.A., Cadore, E.L., Cesari, M., Chen, L.K., Coen, P.M., Courneya, K.S., Duque, G. and Ferrucci, L., 2025. Global consensus on optimal exercise recommendations for enhancing healthy longevity in older adults (ICFSR). The Journal of nutrition, health and aging, p.100401.
- Harber, M.P., Konopka, A.R., Douglass, M.D., Minchev, K., Kaminsky, L.A., Trappe, T.A. and Trappe, S. (2009) ‘Aerobic exercise training improves whole muscle and single myofiber size and function in older women’, American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 297(5), pp. R1452–R1459.
- Cruz-Jentoft, A.J., Landi, F., Topinková, E. and Michel, J.P. (2020) ‘Nutritional strategies for maintaining muscle mass and function’, Clinical Nutrition, 39(12), pp. 3611–3618.
- Irwin, M.R. (2019) ‘Sleep and inflammation: partners in sickness and in health’, Nature Reviews Immunology, 19(11), pp. 702–715.
- Pascoe, M.C., Thompson, D.R. and Ski, C.F. (2017) ‘Mindfulness mediates the physiological markers of stress: Systematic review and meta-analysis’, Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 40(4), pp. 591–603.
- Tieland M et al. Resistance and Aerobic Training Improve Muscle Function and Energy Metabolism. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1755.
- Assmann KE et al. Mediterranean Diet, Inflammation, and Muscle Function in Aging. Nutrients. 2022;14(3):565.
- de França, N.G. and Neto, J.V., 2025. Nutrition for Healthy Longevity. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 29(10), p.100691.
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