[kiers77]

FIT Treadmill Score = MPHR + 12(METs) - 4(age) + (43 pts bonus for being female).

Note if you are 50 years old male, your age docks you 200 points off the top! so you start at -200, then assume you "DO" reach your maximal heartrate (acc to "220-age" ) then you are still at -100 for mortality. Only your METs, can then push your FIT number to a value greater than zero (if the MET number is > 9).

Does anyone know what unit the METs are measured in for this "FIT" metric? wikipedia indicates MET values of activities range from 0.9 (sleeping) to 23 (running at 22.5 km/h or a 4:17 mile pace). I have never run at a 4:17 pace. So it is these elite athletes whose MET numbers (times 12) enable them to score so high on this "FIT" metric. The average joe will only get a MET around 7 i'd imagine, bringing the MET contribution to around 84 points only.

having said that, the survival curve FLATTENS out above zero "FIT" score. so elite/high METs contributions to the "FIT" score beyond zero will not necessarily increase survival, but it does imply less chance of cardio being cause of death.