Important Vitality wellness updates for biokineticists

From 2024, Discovery Vitality is enhancing its benefits to make physical activity and preventive screening more accessible and rewarding than ever before. Plus, biokineticists registered in the Vitality Wellness Network can now offer the Vitality Health Check in addition to the Vitality Fitness Assessment to members.

Introducing a new measure of cardio fitness

Cardio fitness is an important measure of mortality and morbidity. Research shows that an individual's risk of developing chronic conditions and all-cause mortality decreases as their cardio fitness level increases. Plus, technology has made it easier than ever to measure cardio fitness through VO₂ max estimates on fitness devices.

From next year, Vitality members can earn up to 10,000 Vitality points for cardio fitness based on the average of the last five VO₂ max scores from their Apple, Garmin or Samsung fitness device or from the results of a Vitality Fitness Assessment.

How it works

Members will earn Vitality fitness points based on their cardio fitness level, age, and gender. These points will contribute to the maximum 30,000 Vitality fitness points that members can earn in one year. If a member has an Apple, Garmin or Samsung fitness device linked to Vitality and does a Vitality Fitness Assessment as well, they will receive the higher number of points awarded to a maximum of 10,000 points.

For example:

• A 52-year-old woman with an average VO₂ max score of 43 on her Apple Watch will achieve fitness level 5 and earn 10,000 Vitality points.
• A 37-year-old man with an average VO₂ max score of 45 on his Garmin smartwatch will achieve fitness level 3 and earn 4,500 Vitality points.
  • If he works on improving his VO₂ max and achieves a level 5 score in a Vitality Fitness Assessment a few months later, he will get the remaining 5,500 points.
• A 62-year-old woman who doesn't have an Apple, Garmin or Samsung fitness device or cannot do a VO₂ max workout can do a Vitality Fitness Assessment. If she gets a VO₂ max score of 34, she will achieve level 4 and earn 7,000 Vitality points.

Download the updated Vitality points table for cardio fitness (PDF) to learn more.

Updates to the Vitality Fitness Assessment

The High-Performance Vitality Fitness Assessment will fall away from 1 January 2024, owing to low take-up in previous years.

Plus, you can now offer Vitality Health Checks

All biokineticists registered on the Vitality Wellness Network can now offer the Vitality Health Check in addition to the Vitality Fitness Assessment.

The Vitality Health Check helps members to detect lifestyle-related diseases early and manage their health risks with tailored interventions. As a biokineticist, your wellness expertise aligns perfectly with our focus on empowering members to manage their health risks through suitable treatments and lifestyle changes, such as exercise.

Starting today, you can help members understand their overall health and wellbeing with a Vitality Health Check. You can also prescribe personalised exercises to help manage their health risks and improve their fitness.

Download the Independent Contractor Journey Overview (PDF) or email healthcheck_provider_requests@discovery.co.za for more information on how to join the Vitality Health Check network.

Please keep an eye out for communication on VFA training links that will be shared in November, if you have any questions on the updates taking place from 1 January 2024, please email us at vitalitywellnessnetwork@discovery.co.za.

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