Metabolic Testing Could Become Your Most Valuable Service: Why More Businesses are Making the Investment

Female athlete wearing a VO2 Master metabolic testing mask at BodyStats with owner, Eric Lam, smiling beside them.

BodyStats tested over 2,000 clients with the VO2 Master Analyzer in the first two years. Here’s what fitness and wellness businesses can learn.

Adding a new service is always a business decision.

Will clients value it? Will it fit into your workflow? Will it generate enough revenue to justify the investment?

For many facilities, metabolic testing answers all three questions.

Why Metabolic Testing is Growing so Quickly

Today’s clients expect more than generic training plans.

Whether they’re training for a marathon, trying to lose weight, improving longevity, or simply wanting measurable progress, people increasingly want objective, trackable data.

Metabolic testing delivers exactly that.

With VO2 Master, facilities can offer:

  • VO2 max and submax testing
  • Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) testing
  • Ventilatory thresholds
  • Personalized training zones
  • Progress tracking over time

Rather than relying on prediction equations, coaches can make recommendations using real physiological measurements.

For businesses, that creates opportunities to introduce premium assessments, ongoing retesting, and higher-value coaching packages.

World map showing global VO2 Master users across fitness, wellness, performance, and university settings.
World map showing global use of VO2 Master portable metabolic testing across fitness, wellness, and performance settings.

The Business Challenges Most Facilities Face

Many businesses recognize the value of metabolic testing but assume it requires:

  • A dedicated space
  • Expensive capital costs
  • Complex software
  • Long testing times
  • Specialized staff credentials

These barriers have traditionally limited metabolic testing to hospitals and universities.

Portable metabolic analysis changes that.

Instead of dedicating an entire room to testing equipment, facilities can integrate testing into their existing assessment space.

Why Portability Changes Everything

The VO2 Master analyzer was designed to make metabolic testing accurate and convenient outside of the laboratory.

The analyzer is lightweight, wireless, and controlled through a user-friendly mobile application.

This portability allows facilities to:

  • Test clients in small assessment rooms
  • Perform field-based testing
  • Reduce setup time
  • Improve workflow between appointments
  • Expand services without expanding their footprint

For many businesses, space becomes a competitive advantage instead of a limitation.

Split image showing a client completing VO2 Max testing with VO2 Master and running a half marathon outdoors.
Metabolic testing helps clients personalize training zones, track progress, and prepare for endurance goals with objective data.

Case Study: How BodyStats Built a Major New Revenue Stream

BodyStats already operated a successful DEXA scanning clinic.

They wanted to expand their services by offering VO2 Max and Resting Metabolic Rate testing.

There was one problem.

Their available testing room measured only about 150 square feet.

Traditional metabolic carts simply would not fit.

The Solution

Instead of purchasing a large traditional metabolic system, BodyStats paired the VO2 Master analyzer with an air bike (now a treadmill).

The complete testing setup comfortably fit inside their available space while maintaining a smooth client workflow.

Our mission at BodyStats is to make advanced health tracking available to everyone. The VO2 Master let us bring lab-grade metabolic testing into 150 square feet, a space where a metabolic cart could never fit.”

Eric Lam, Owner

They also cited two major reasons for choosing VO2 Master:

  • Compact size
  • Simple iPhone app and professional reporting

Those features allowed staff to move efficiently between clients while delivering polished reports immediately after testing.

The Results

Since launching metabolic testing in July 2024, BodyStats has achieved impressive growth.

MetricResult
Total metabolic tests3,149
Unique clients2,031
VO2 Max tests1,483
RMR tests1,666
Repeat clients979
Repeat rate48%

Perhaps the most impressive statistic isn’t the volume of tests.

Nearly half of all clients returned for additional testing and many just had their tests in recent weeks and months, so arenโ€™t due for re-testing yet.

These numbers demonstrate the value clients place on objective progress tracking.

When clients can measure improvements, they’re more likely to stay motivated and committed.

Fitness and wellness professional holding an iPad displaying a VO2 Master graded exercise test sample report with VO2 Max and threshold results.
VO2 Master provides professional metabolic testing reports with VO2 Max, ventilatory thresholds, heart rate, power, and calorie data.

Better Data Creates Better Coaching

Metabolic testing isn’t only valuable for business owners.

It also helps coaches deliver more individualized recommendations.

One example came from the BodyStats founder’s own household.

His girlfriend wanted to train for her first half marathon.

A VO2 Max assessment showed her first ventilatory threshold occurred at 135 bpm, significantly lower than age-predicted formulas suggested.

Although training at that heart rate initially felt slow, the physiological data guided the training plan.

The result?

She completed her first half marathon while maintaining healthy body weight throughout training using regular RMR assessments and DEXA scans to monitor progress.

Instead of guessing, coaching decisions were informed by objective measurements.

Why Repeat Testing Matters

Many assessments happen once.

Metabolic testing encourages clients to return.

People naturally want to know:

  • Is my fitness improving?
  • Has my metabolism changed?
  • Are my training zones different?
  • Is my current program working, what do I need to do now?

These follow-up assessments strengthen client relationships while creating recurring revenue opportunities.

Ready to See the Numbers?

VO2 Master metabolic testing ROI calculator showing monthly exercise tests, RMR tests, revenue, and year one and year two profit projections.
VO2 Master ROI calculator showing how metabolic testing can generate recurring revenue and profit for fitness businesses and health facilities.

See your revenue potential using the VO2 Master ROI calculator here

Is Metabolic Testing Right for Your Facility?

Portable metabolic testing works well for:

  • Longevity and fitness facilities
  • Personal training studios
  • Performance centers
  • Sports medicine centers
  • Exercise physiology practices
  • DEXA imaging facilities
  • Corporate wellness programs
  • Universities

The ability to perform testing without a dedicated laboratory opens opportunities for small and large businesses.

See how easy metabolic testing can be

Why VO2 Master?

Facilities consistently choose the VO2 Master analyzer because it combines portability with practical, proven accuracy and workflows. It is trusted in 52 countries worldwide.

Key advantages include:

  • Small footprint
  • Wireless operation
  • Mobile app reporting
  • Quick setup
  • Indoor and outdoor testing
  • Repeatable assessments
  • Easy integration into existing services

If you are looking to add revenue to your health and wellness business, the VO2 Master analyzer can open new opportunities not only at your facility but at events and other locations such as corporate wellness and more.

See how facilities use VO2 Master

Conclusion

BodyStats demonstrates that adding metabolic testing can be more than just a new assessment.

It can become a meaningful driver of business growth and client satisfaction.

With more than 3,100 tests performed2,000+ clients served, and a 48% repeat testing rate, the results show what’s possible when objective physiology becomes part of the client experience.

If you’re looking to differentiate your facility, create premium services, and deliver data-driven coaching, portable metabolic testing may be the next step.

Ready to see what’s possible?
Book a live demo or Shop VO2 Master online to bring metabolic testing to your facility.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much space do I need for metabolic testing with the VO2 Master?

Very little. As demonstrated by BodyStats, an assessment area of approximately 150 square feet can comfortably accommodate a VO2 Master testing setup.

Can metabolic testing create recurring revenue?

Yes. Repeat assessments allow clients to monitor changes in fitness, metabolism, and health over time, creating opportunities for ongoing engagement.

Who benefits from VO2 Max testing?

VO2 Max testing is valuable for longevity clients, recreational exercisers, endurance athletes, weight management clients, tactical professionals, and anyone looking to improve fitness and overall well-being.

What is Resting Metabolic Rate testing?

RMR testing measures the number of calories your body uses at rest through indirect calorimetry. This information can support individualized nutrition and energy expenditure planning.

Is portable metabolic testing accurate?

VO2 Master has been evaluated in multiple independent published validation studies and is used by coaches, researchers, universities, and healthcare professionals worldwide.

External Sources

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription.

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