--- title: "Low Resting Heart Rate Becomes Status Symbol for Fitness Enthusiasts" url: https://newscentral.site/low-resting-heart-rate-becomes-status-symbol-for-fitness-enthusiasts/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Style" published: 2026-10-07T14:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-07T15:49:01.245Z id: 8daac7d6-d5ae-48a2-a4e7-e4dbfa344da3 source: "GQ https://www.gq.com/story/a-low-resting-heart-rate-is-the-new-fitness-flex" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/low-resting-heart-rate-becomes-status-symbol-for-fitness-enthusiasts/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Low Resting Heart Rate Becomes Status Symbol for Fitness Enthusiasts Users on ATEAM, a dating and social app, are voluntarily sharing their resting heart rate figures as part of their profiles. A new trend is emerging among those who value fitness, where a low resting heart rate (RHR) has become a badge of honor. This can be seen on ATEAM, a dating and social app that connects people based on their shared interest in fitness. Users are voluntarily sharing their RHR figures, which range from 49 to 62, as part of their profiles. The lower the RHR, the more impressive it is considered among endurance athletes and those who prioritize health and wellness. ATEAM's founder, Dan Ilani, says that including this information makes sense in a community where users are already sharing detailed data about themselves. This approach has led to around 20 percent of users displaying their RHR on their profiles. Interestingly, women make up the majority of those choosing to share their RHR figures. According to Ilani, the app's designers aimed to avoid overwhelming users with too much information. The decision to include RHR in user profiles was meant to facilitate connections among like-minded individuals who value fitness and health. The trend extends beyond ATEAM as well; people are now sharing screenshots of their health tracker scores on social media. This shift towards publicly showcasing personal health metrics suggests that a low resting heart rate has become the new status symbol for those who prioritize fitness and wellness. The trend of publicly showcasing personal health metrics has reached new heights in professional sports. During high-profile events like the Tour De France, wearable technology companies like Whoop have begun broadcasting the resting heart rates (RHR) of top athletes on live television. For example, Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar's RHRs dropped into the 30s during competition. The display of RHR has been likened to a status symbol, with some comparing it to flaunting wealth through luxury items like high-end cars. However, unlike these superficial displays of affluence, a low RHR has real significance in terms of health and fitness. Research suggests that athletes who achieve lower RHRs tend to have better cardiovascular fitness. A study published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology found a correlation between higher RHRs (over 70 bpm) and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. This finding supports the idea that monitoring RHR can provide valuable insights into an individual's overall health status. According to Dr. Jeffrey Hsu, a sports cardiologist at UCLA Health, there is substance behind the association of lower RHR with fitness. He notes that while other wearable metrics like sleep score or heart-rate variability have some value, RHR offers a unique snapshot of cardiovascular fitness and potential age-related disease risk. A low resting heart rate can serve as an indicator of cardiovascular fitness and potential age-related disease risk. The chambers of the heart become more efficient at pumping blood when its muscles are stronger, resulting in fewer beats per minute to supply the body with oxygen. For individuals who prefer a single metric to measure their fitness progress, RHR provides a clear and concise reading. This can be particularly appealing for those who enjoy tracking their improvements over time. As a result, many people take pride in their low resting heart rate and share it as a badge of honor on social media platforms like Instagram. Some individuals have even started using their RHR as a factor in determining compatibility with potential partners. By sharing their resting heart rate numbers, they can gain insight into the cardiovascular health and lifestyle habits of others. This unique approach to dating has sparked interesting conversations about the role of fitness metrics in relationships. The idea that a low resting heart rate is a desirable trait has taken hold on dating apps, where users can share their vital signs alongside other fitness metrics. However, this emphasis on quantified health and fitness may be more about showcasing one's tech-savviness than actual physical prowess. Ilani suggests that individuals who prioritize displaying their resting heart rate are likely to be those who wear wearable devices such as Whoop, Oura, or Garmin. This implies a certain level of investment in tracking and measuring their own health data. Those who find this attractive may also value the quantified approach to fitness. However, using resting heart rate as a proxy for overall health is not without its limitations. Dr Hsu notes that genetics, body size, age, and sex all play a role in determining one's heart rate, even among elite athletes. In fact, he has observed some top performers with surprisingly high resting heart rates - in the seventies, eighties, or even nineties. This nuance highlights the potential pitfalls of relying on RHR as a shorthand for someone's healthy lifestyle. The trend of showcasing one's resting heart rate (RHR) as a measure of fitness has become increasingly popular, but experts warn that this approach can be counterproductive if taken too far. Touting low RHR as a badge of honor can lead to overtraining, particularly when individuals prioritize achieving a specific number over developing sustainable habits. According to Dr. Hsu, the actual behaviors and routines that contribute to a low RHR are more important than the number itself. Ultimately, this nuance highlights the need for people to focus on cultivating healthy lifestyle habits rather than fixating on a specific metric that can be easily manipulated or misrepresented. --- Source: [GQ](https://www.gq.com/story/a-low-resting-heart-rate-is-the-new-fitness-flex) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/low-resting-heart-rate-becomes-status-symbol-for-fitness-enthusiasts/