And the full release... Vitality fitness points refinements Vitality is committed to making people healthier. On 2 April 2016, refinements will come into effect on how you can earn Vitality fitness points. While we will continue to respond to you individually, here are answers to some of the questions you have been asking: 1. Why have you made changes to the Vitality fitness device and app partners? The changes are designed to ensure Vitality remains clinically relevant based on credible and reliable data. In addition, the updates are intended to minimise the potential for gaming and abuse which is occurring through the capturing of unverified physical activity. In line with this, we will no longer be awarding Vitality points for certain devices and apps, the most commonly used being MapMyFitness, Strava, miCoach, Timex, Moves, and RunKeeper. In addition, heart rate data from fitbit devices does not currently appear in the format required by us to award Vitality points. We have selected points-earning devices and apps on the basis of the ability to obtain reliable data, and ensuring that they represent the vast majority of points-earning activities currently being recorded by Vitality members. You will continue to earn Vitality fitness points by using the following devices: Apple Watch, Samsung Gear Watch, Polar, Garmin, SUUNTO, TomTom, Jawbone, Fitbit, Fitbug, Withings and Misfit. In line with our clinical guidelines, more emphasis is being placed on verified heart rate data than unverified steps. You can also use the Apple Health app using an appropriate iPhone, or S Health through an appropriate Samsung phone, to track your steps and earn up to 100 Vitality fitness points a day for 10 000 steps or more. Device and app partners will be reviewed on a regular basis and added when all the relevant criteria are met. 2. How will I achieve my Vitality Active Rewards goal now that it is harder to earn Vitality fitness points? To ensure a smooth transition for those on Vitality Active Rewards, certain members’ Vitality Active Rewards goals will be recalculated on a personalised basis to account for the points changes. This will take effect in April 2016. 3. Why has Strava been delinked? As reported by many of our members, Strava integration has been problematic this year, which has negatively impacted on Vitality’s ability to deliver the necessary support and service to our members. In addition, we are no longer able to support third party integrations or devices that allow self-reported data. At this stage, verified and self-reported data on Strava cannot be differentiated on our platform and we are therefore in the process of discontinuing this method of integration from Vitality, effective 2 April 2016. 4. I don’t have a fitness device – how do I earn points now if I don’t want to get one? There are many ways to earn your fitness points. We are placing more emphasis on data which is verifiable and clinically relevant. If you don’t have a separate fitness device, you can still use the Apple Health app using an appropriate iPhone, or S Health through an appropriate Samsung phone, to track your steps and earn up to 100 Vitality fitness points a day. You can earn 100 Vitality fitness points for visiting one of our partner gyms, taking part in a workout at one of our Vitality Fit partners, or taking part in a Run/Walk For Life workout. You can also earn 300 Vitality fitness points for participating in a free park run, as well as up to 3 000 Vitality fitness points for taking part in selected timed and verified race events. 5. Why – and on what scientific basis – have you changed the heart rate levels? Our clinical guidelines are based on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendations. As the largest sports medicine and exercise science organisation in the world, ACSM guidelines are globally one of the most credible sources around exercise prescription. Our prior recommendation of 60% for moderate and 70% for vigorous was below the ACSM recommendations and not fully aligned with Vitality’s targeted clinical outcomes. As our ability to track clinically relevant and verifiable data has improved, we have updated our heart rate workout recommendations to fall more in line with the international standard of moderate heart rate (fairly light to somewhat hard) being 64-75% and vigorous (somewhat hard to very hard) being 76-96%. 6. Will my steps still count? Yes, you can earn 100 Vitality points for completing 10 000 steps or more in a day. This is in line with global health guidelines which recommend a combination of moderate and vigorous activity during the week. The removal of 300 points for 12 500 steps and the focus on a daily target of 10 000 steps and maximum 100 points a day is designed to encourage members to be active regularly during the week. If you were using an app that will no longer link with Vitality, you can still use S Health through an appropriate Samsung phone or the Apple Health app using an appropriate iPhone to track your steps and earn up to 100 Vitality fitness points a day. 7. Why are you encouraging me to over-train? We do not endorse nor do we encourage members to attempt to earn their points solely by taking part in one long, vigorous workout or event, but rather through several workouts throughout the week. Vitality members are encouraged to take part in regular, moderate/vigorous physical activity most days of the week for at least 30 minutes a day – in line with global health guidelines. As such, the 100 to 300 points ranges remain within reach of our members. Our 1 500 and 3 000 points categories are in place to recognise our high performance athletes who occasionally take part in a longer distance event. While these points categories recognise members for taking part in activities like marathons, we know that members who do so will also earn points through frequent physical activity over the course of a week in order to train for these events. To ensure a smooth transition for those on Vitality Active Rewards, certain Vitality Active Rewards members’ goals will be recalculated on a personalised basis to account for the points changes.
