The mission at BodyStats is to make advanced health tracking available to everyone.
When owner Eric Lam set out to expand beyond DEXA body composition scanning, he wanted to offer clients deeper insights into fitness, metabolism, and long-term health. In a city of 3 million, the challenge wasn’t demand, it was space.
With just 150 square feet available for testing, conventional metabolic carts simply weren’t an option.
By choosing the VO2 Master portable analyzer, BodyStats turned that limitation into an opportunity, creating one of the clinic’s fastest-growing services and highest revenue generators in just two years.
The Challenge
BodyStats had already built a successful business around DEXA scans, but many clients wanted more actionable health data.
For Eric, VO2 max testing and resting metabolic rate (RMR) assessments were the obvious next step so he could help clients understand their cardiovascular fitness, optimize training, and personalize their ideal caloric balance.
The problem was equipment size.
Traditional metabolic carts require dedicated floor space, permanent installation, and lengthy setup between tests. In a facility with only 150 square feet available, there simply wasn’t room.
The business needed a solution that was compact, reliable, and easy to integrate into an existing client workflow.
The Solution
BodyStats paired an air bike (more recently a treadmill) with the portable VO2 Master Analyzer, creating a complete metabolic testing service in a remarkably small footprint.
Instead of redesigning their facility around expensive equipment, they simply added a new premium service using the space they already had.
Why VO2 Master
For BodyStats, portability wasn’t just convenient, it made metabolic testing possible.
“The size is what sold us. It’s honestly tiny, and it let us take full advantage of a space that would otherwise have been unusable for metabolic testing.”
The streamlined iPhone-based workflow also made testing simple for staff while providing professional instant reports that clients could immediately see and use.
The combination of portability, ease of use, and professional reporting allowed BodyStats to introduce advanced metabolic testing without adding operational complexity.
The Impact
Since launching metabolic testing in July 2024, the service has become one of BodyStats’ strongest business drivers.
In just two years, the clinic has completed more than 3,100 metabolic tests and served over 2,000 unique clients.
Even more importantly, nearly half of all clients have returned for follow-up testing, demonstrating the long-term value of objective metabolic data.
Client Success Example
One of the most memorable success stories happened close to home for Eric.
“My favourite example is personal: my own girlfriend. When she first started training, she struggled to walk continuously for five minutes.”
A VO2 max assessment revealed that her first ventilatory threshold (VT1) occurred at 135 beats per minute, roughly 10–15 bpm lower than standard age-based training recommendations would have suggested.
Although training at that intensity initially felt frustratingly slow for her, the metabolic data provided confidence to trust the process.
Months later, she completed her first half marathon in 2:47.
Throughout training, RMR testing helped ensure calorie intake supported performance without unwanted weight loss. At just 105 pounds, maintaining energy availability was critical. Instead of losing weight, she actually gained a pound during the training block while DEXA scans confirmed healthy body composition changes.
The result wasn’t just improved fitness, it was a training plan guided by physiology instead of guesswork.
BodyStats Business Results at a Glance
- 3,149 total metabolic tests completed since launching in July 2024
- 1,483 VO2 max tests
- 1,666 Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) tests
- 2,031 unique clients tested
- 2,256 tests completed in the last 12 months alone
- 979 repeat clients
- 48% client return rate
Key Takeaway
For Eric Lam, portable VO2 Master metabolic testing solved far more than a space constraint.
It created a premium service that fits inside a small space, delivers measurable value to clients, and generates recurring revenue through repeat testing.
“With VO2 Master, metabolic testing stopped being a space problem and became our fastest-growing service. VO2 max testing is just so powerful, it gives people numbers they can actually train by, and it lets us genuinely help them.”
For fitness and wellness businesses looking to expand services without expanding their footprint, BodyStats demonstrates what’s possible when portable metabolic testing meets motivated business owners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a health and wellness business add metabolic testing without a large space?
A health and wellness business can add metabolic testing by using a portable metabolic analyzer like the VO2 Master Analyzer instead of a traditional metabolic cart. BodyStats added VO2 Max testing and resting metabolic rate testing inside only 150 square feet, allowing the business to expand services without expanding its facility size.
Why is portable VO2 Max testing valuable for fitness and wellness businesses?
Portable VO2 Max testing helps fitness and wellness businesses give clients objective data about cardiovascular fitness, training zones, and progress over time. It also creates a premium service that can support client retention, repeat assessments, and new revenue opportunities.
Can RMR testing help clinics and wellness businesses generate recurring revenue?
Yes. RMR and VO2 testing can support recurring revenue because clients often return to measure changes in metabolism, caloric needs, and training progress. In the BodyStats case study, nearly half of clients returned for follow-up testing, showing the value of repeat metabolic assessments.
What kind of business is a good fit for VO2 Max and RMR testing?
VO2 Max and RMR testing are a strong fit for DEXA scanning facilities, fitness, wellness and longevity centers, performance facilities, universities, and coaching businesses that want to offer advanced health insights tracking for more precise and personalized client recommendations.
How much space is needed for portable metabolic testing?
Portable metabolic testing can be performed in a small space indoors or outside. BodyStats used the VO2 Master Analyzer to add VO2 Max and resting metabolic rate testing inside a 150-square-foot testing area. Many coaches set up and calibrate from their vehicle for outdoor training sessions.
Can metabolic testing be added to a DEXA scan business?
Yes. Metabolic testing can be a strong add-on service for a DEXA scan business because it gives clients physiological performance data which is very complimentary to the composition data they receive from the scan. BodyStats uses VO2 Max testing and RMR testing to expand beyond DEXA scans and provide deeper advanced health tracking over time.
Is VO2 Max testing better than wearable estimates?
Wearables can estimate VO2 Max, but actual VO2 Max testing measures respiratory data during an assessment, it can not be performed throught the skin. For coaches, and wellness businesses, measured VO2 Max testing provides more actionable information for training zones, fitness progress, and client education both short and long-term.
Why should fitness and wellness centers consider portable metabolic testing instead of a traditional metabolic cart?
Facilities may consider portable metabolic testing when they need a smaller, easier-to-integrate solution for VO2 Max and RMR testing. A traditional metabolic cart requires more space, setup, and operational complexity, while a portable metabolic analyzer can fit into existing client workflows.
