🚀 Getting Started
Welcome to BioStat! Follow these steps to set up the app and get your first life expectancy prediction.
1
Download BioStat
Download BioStat from the App Store onto your Apple Watch. The app will automatically appear on your watch once installed.
2
Open the App
Find the BioStat icon on your Apple Watch and tap to open. You'll be greeted with a welcome screen.
3
Accept the Disclaimer
Read and accept the disclaimer explaining that BioStat is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.
4
Grant HealthKit Permissions
Allow BioStat to access your health data. You can choose which data types to share.
5
Complete the Lifestyle Survey
Answer questions about your lifestyle habits. This helps personalize your predictions.
6
View Your Prediction
Once setup is complete, you'll see your personalized life expectancy countdown!
❤️ Setting Up HealthKit
BioStat uses data from Apple HealthKit to make accurate predictions. Here's how to configure your permissions.
Required Data Types
For the most accurate predictions, we recommend enabling all these data types:
- Date of Birth - Essential for age-based calculations
- Biological Sex - Used in actuarial models
- Height & Weight - For BMI calculations
- Heart Rate - Real-time cardiovascular health indicator
- Steps - Activity level tracking
Optional Data Types (Enhanced Accuracy)
- Resting Heart Rate - Cardiovascular fitness indicator
- Heart Rate Variability - Stress and recovery marker
- VO2 Max - Cardiorespiratory fitness (Pro)
- Sleep Analysis - Sleep quality tracking (Pro)
- Active Energy - Calories burned through activity
- Exercise Minutes - Workout duration tracking
How to Modify Permissions
1
Open iPhone Settings
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Health.
2
Find BioStat
Scroll down and tap on BioStat in the app list.
3
Toggle Permissions
Enable or disable individual data types as desired.
Tip: The more data you share, the more accurate your predictions will be. But even with minimal data, BioStat can provide useful estimates.
📋 Completing the Lifestyle Survey
The lifestyle survey captures information that can't be measured by your Apple Watch. Answer honestly for the most accurate results.
Free Survey (5 Risk Factors)
The free survey covers the most impactful lifestyle factors:
- Smoking Status - Never, former, or current smoker
- Alcohol Consumption - How often and how much you drink
- Exercise Frequency - How often you exercise (beyond daily activity)
- Sleep Quality - Your typical sleep patterns
- Body Weight - Your BMI category
Pro Survey Tier 2 (Additional Factors)
Pro users can complete additional survey tiers for enhanced accuracy:
- Diet quality and eating habits
- Stress levels and management
- Social connections and relationships
- Mental health indicators
- Occupation and work stress
Pro Survey Tier 3 (Medical History)
The most comprehensive tier includes:
- Family medical history
- Chronic conditions
- Medications
- Blood pressure history
- Cholesterol levels (if known)
Important: Survey responses are stored locally on your device. Be honest - there's no judgment, and accuracy leads to better predictions.
Updating Your Survey
Life changes! You can update your survey responses anytime:
- Open BioStat on your Apple Watch
- Scroll down and tap "Settings"
- Tap "Edit Survey Responses"
- Update any answers and save
📊 Understanding Your Predictions
BioStat calculates your life expectancy using proven actuarial methods. Here's what your prediction means.
The Gompertz-Makeham Model
Your prediction is based on the Gompertz-Makeham mortality model, which has been used in actuarial science since 1825. This model:
- Accounts for age-related mortality increases
- Includes age-independent factors (accidents, etc.)
- Is calibrated with modern WHO mortality data
Risk Factor Adjustments
Your survey responses adjust the baseline prediction using Cox Proportional Hazards:
- Positive factors (exercise, healthy diet) increase life expectancy
- Negative factors (smoking, excessive drinking) decrease it
- Effects are cumulative and based on epidemiological research
Reading Your Countdown
Your main countdown shows:
- Years, Months, Days - Time remaining to your predicted end date
- Expected Date - Your predicted life expectancy date
- Age at Death - Your predicted age at the expected date
What Changes Your Prediction?
Your prediction updates based on:
- Time passing - Each day, your remaining time decreases by 1 day
- Health improvements - Better metrics can add days/weeks
- Lifestyle changes - Updated survey responses affect predictions
- Health declines - Worsening metrics may reduce predictions
Remember: This is a statistical estimate, not a guarantee. Think of it as a personalized benchmark to track your health journey.
⏱️ Using the Main Countdown
The main countdown view is the heart of BioStat. Here's how to navigate it.
Main Screen Elements
- Large Countdown - Your primary life expectancy display
- Change Indicator - Shows if prediction went up or down today
- Last Updated - When the prediction was last calculated
Navigation
- Swipe Left - View health metrics
- Swipe Right - Access settings
- Swipe Up - See more details and history (Pro)
- Tap Countdown - Toggle between years/days view
- Pull Down - Refresh data and recalculate
Understanding Colors
- Green - Your prediction improved today
- Red - Your prediction decreased today
- Gray - No significant change
📈 Tracking Your Progress
Monitor how your life expectancy changes over time.
Daily Tracking
Open BioStat daily to:
- See your updated prediction based on new health data
- Check if lifestyle changes are having an effect
- Maintain your tracking streak
Historical Trends (Pro)
Pro users can access detailed trend charts showing:
- Prediction changes over days, weeks, and months
- Health metric correlations
- Life days gained or lost over time
- Best and worst periods
Health Status View
Swipe left from the main screen to see your current health metrics:
- Current heart rate
- Steps today
- Last night's sleep
- Exercise minutes
- HRV and VO2 Max (Pro)
⭐ Pro Features
BioStat Pro unlocks advanced features for deeper health insights.
Feature Comparison
| Feature |
Free |
Pro |
| Life countdown timer |
✓ |
✓ |
| Basic health metrics |
✓ |
✓ |
| Lifestyle risk factors |
5 |
14 |
| Historical trends |
✕ |
✓ |
| Watch complications |
✕ |
✓ |
| HRV & VO2 Max insights |
✕ |
✓ |
| Sleep stage analysis |
✕ |
✓ |
| Achievements & goals |
✕ |
✓ |
| Coaching nudges |
✕ |
✓ |
| iCloud sync |
✕ |
✓ |
Upgrading to Pro
1
Open Settings
Scroll down on the main screen and tap Settings.
2
Tap "Upgrade to Pro"
You'll see pricing options for monthly, yearly, and lifetime plans.
3
Choose Your Plan
Select the plan that works best for you and confirm with Apple Pay or your Apple ID.
4
Enjoy Pro Features
Pro features activate immediately after purchase.
⌚ Watch Complications (Pro)
See your life countdown right on your watch face.
Available Complications
- Circular - Shows years remaining in a round format
- Corner - Compact view for corner positions
- Rectangular - Detailed view with days and change indicator
- Inline - Simple text format for smaller positions
Adding a Complication
1
Enter Edit Mode
Long-press on your watch face until it enters edit mode.
2
Tap "Edit"
Tap the Edit button on your current watch face.
3
Select a Complication Slot
Swipe to the complications page and tap on a slot you want to use.
4
Choose BioStat
Scroll through the list and select BioStat. Choose the style you prefer.
5
Press Digital Crown
Press the Digital Crown to save and exit edit mode.
🏆 Achievements & Goals (Pro)
Stay motivated with gamification features.
Achievement Categories
- Streaks - Maintain consecutive positive days
- Milestones - Reach cumulative life days gained
- Lifestyle - Complete surveys and maintain good habits
- Consistency - Use the app regularly
- Improvement - Improve your prediction over time
Achievement Tiers
- Bronze - Entry-level achievements (10 points)
- Silver - Intermediate achievements (25 points)
- Gold - Advanced achievements (50 points)
- Platinum - Elite achievements (100 points)
Weekly Goals
Set and track weekly health goals:
- Positive days this week
- Exercise minutes target
- Sleep hours target
- Steps goal
- Life days gained target
⚙️ Settings & Privacy
Customize BioStat to your preferences.
Available Settings
- Display Units - Choose years/months or days for countdown
- Notifications - Enable/disable daily reminders
- iCloud Sync - Toggle cross-device sync (Pro)
- Complication Style - Choose your preferred complication look
- Dark Mode - Follows system or custom setting
Privacy Controls
- View Data - See all data BioStat has stored
- Export Data - Download your data as a file
- Delete All Data - Remove all stored information
- Manage HealthKit - Link to iOS Health permissions
Deleting Your Data
1
Open Settings
Tap Settings from the main screen.
2
Tap Privacy
Navigate to the Privacy section.
3
Select "Delete All Data"
Confirm that you want to delete all stored data.
4
Confirm Deletion
This action cannot be undone. Your predictions and history will be permanently deleted.
💡 Tips for Better Predictions
Get the most accurate and useful predictions with these tips.
Data Quality Tips
- Wear your watch consistently - More data points mean better predictions
- Keep HealthKit data up to date - Update your height/weight if they change
- Answer surveys honestly - The model works best with accurate inputs
- Check the app daily - Regular check-ins provide more data points
Improving Your Prediction
- Exercise regularly - Even 30 minutes of walking can help
- Prioritize sleep - Aim for 7-8 hours per night
- Manage stress - Practice relaxation techniques
- Stay social - Strong relationships correlate with longevity
- Eat well - A balanced diet impacts many health markers
Understanding Fluctuations
It's normal for predictions to fluctuate daily. Don't worry about small changes - focus on long-term trends. Factors that cause temporary fluctuations include:
- Poor sleep one night
- Higher stress during busy periods
- Recovery after intense exercise
- Minor illness or allergies
Pro Tip: Focus on weekly and monthly trends rather than daily numbers. Small positive changes compound over time!
❓ Need More Help?
Still have questions? We're here to help.