InsideTracker claims to help users get a better handle on their biological age, which is actually different from chronological age. While chronological age measures how long you have physically existed, biological age measures the age of your cells. With some people, these two numbers are the same, but for others, they can be different.
Many factors can affect your biological age, such as genetics and stress. Additionally, biological age can be a risk factor for the development of many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and dementia. While biological vs chronological age is an accepted concept, using biomarkers to call out biological age still needs more robust research.
The first step when using InsideTracker is to choose your plan (we outline the options and costs in detail below) and go through the checkout process. You’ll then complete a brief questionnaire, where you’re asked about your exercise, dietary, sleep and other lifestyle habits. You’ll also be prompted to provide some body measurements.
From there, you’ll either schedule your blood test or simply print out your lab slip and bring it to a Quest Diagnostics location. You should receive brief instructions about how to prepare for this. For instance, you may need to stop taking supplements 24 hours ahead of your blood test. All InsideTracker tests also require a 12-hour fast before blood tests. The blood tests for InnerAge 2.0 screen for 17 biomarkers for men and 13 for women.
It should take about five to seven days to get your blood test results, according to the company, at which time you’ll receive an email when your results and recommendations are ready to view. Those who upload their own blood test results can expect to wait 10 to 14 days to receive results.
Once your results are ready, you can view them either using InsideTracker’s website or on its app. You’ll be able to see your biomarker levels and how they compare to optimal ranges, as well as the recommendations InsideTracker has for how to improve biomarkers that aren’t within range. Biomarkers that the InnerAge 2.0 test analyzes vary for men versus women, but includes glucose, LDL, triglycerides, HbA1c, GGT and albumin (a protein made in the liver) for both.
You’ll then set up an action plan, which could range from improving your overall health to focusing on a certain objective, such as your gut health, energy levels, metabolism, inner age, endurance, heart health, fat loss, sleep, strength and power, injury prevention and recovery, stress, cognition or endurance. Selecting a specific action plan allows you to prioritize the recommendations offered, so you can focus on meeting your particular goal. Recommendations range from trying a new type of nut that week to continuing to get more sunshine to progressing resistance training.
From there, you can check in regularly through InsideTracker’s app and access various informational articles and podcast episodes. You’ll also have a Wellness Score, which will update as you log your daily progress. Each day, you’re also prompted to rate your stress level the day before. If you have a wearable device, such as an Apple Watch or Fitbit, you can also sync it with the app so it feeds any data into InsideTracker.
Your plan will last for approximately three months, at which point InsideTracker recommends that you should get an updated blood test (though this is not included in the initial cost). This will allow you to see if any improvements have occurred. InsideTracker also explains that re-testing is necessary because any changes—whether to your diet, lifestyle, activity level or environment—will affect test results, and it’s important to calibrate an action plan to relevant results.
