Active Minutes

Active minutes count time spent at moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), usually estimated by a device from heart rate and/or motion (some platforms call them "active zone minutes" and weight vigorous time double). They matter because they map onto the major physical-activity guidelines:

• WHO/US guidelines recommend 150–300 minutes/week of moderate activity, or 75–150 minutes/week of vigorous, or an equivalent mix, plus 2+ days/week of muscle-strengthening.
• Many platforms credit vigorous minutes at 2× toward a weekly target, mirroring the guideline equivalence (vigorous "counts double").

Why track them rather than just steps: active minutes add the intensity dimension that steps lacks. A walk to the bus and a tempo run both add steps, but only the run banks meaningful MVPA. Trending weekly active minutes is a clean general-health KPI and confirms you're meeting cardiorespiratory guidelines.

Caveats: the intensity threshold is estimated, so device active-minute totals depend on how the device infers "moderate" (HR vs motion), and HR-based credit can misfire (e.g. elevated HR from heat or caffeine while sedentary). Use the weekly total as a guideline check, not a precise dose.

• Active minutes = time at moderate-to-vigorous intensity (MVPA).
• Guidelines: 150–300 min/wk moderate OR 75–150 min/wk vigorous (or mix) + 2+ strength days.
• Vigorous activity often credited 2× toward weekly targets.
• Adds the intensity dimension that step count lacks.
• Intensity threshold is device-estimated; treat totals as approximate.

• steps — volume of movement; active minutes add intensity.
• heart-rate-logging — HR is how many devices score active minutes.
• cardiorespiratory-guidelines — the targets active minutes track against.
• fitt-vp-cardio — intensity/time prescription behind the guidelines.
• kpis-general-health — weekly active minutes is a headline health KPI.