10 Health Questions Answered by Biomarkers 

Tired? Struggling to recover? Not hitting your fitness goals? Does this sound familiar? Your body has explanations in the form of biomarkers, 65 key ones to be precise.

Biomarkers are measurable signals of how your systems are working. You can test any of these independently, but the Advanced Labs facility that Whoop uses is as good a place as any to start by getting an appreciation of their importance. You can get one complete test, referred to as a ‘panel,’ and pair the results with sleep, strain, and recovery data to give actionable insights.

With that in mind, here are the first 10 common health questions, answered by key biomarkers, to help you understand and improve your well-being. The other 44 are summarised further down.

1. Why do I struggle to lose weight or feel low on energy?

Answer: HOMA-IR Score. This measures how well your body uses insulin to get energy from blood sugar. High results mean your body is less efficient, hence may have a raised risk for diabetes, heart issues, or weight challenges. WHOOP Advanced Labs shows how your HOMA-IR ties to your exercise intensity (like VO2max) and recovery, so you can tweak your diet or workouts to boost energy.

new Whoop VO2max – an Explainer – what is a good VO2max for Whoop?

2. How can I check my heart health beyond cholesterol?

Answer: Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) ApoB counts the particles that carry cholesterol, which can clog arteries over time. It’s a better predictor of heart disease than just LDL cholesterol. WHOOP pairs ApoB with your resting heart rate and cardio data for a fuller picture of your heart’s long-term health.

3. Why do I feel inflamed or slow to recover?

Answer: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) flags inflammation, which can spike from stress or poor sleep and slow recovery. High levels also hint at heart risks. WHOOP tracks hsCRP alongside your strain and sleep patterns, showing how lifestyle tweaks (like better rest) can lower inflammation fast.

4. Why am I so stressed and sleeping poorly?

Answer: Cortisol, the stress hormone, affects sleep, focus, and energy. When it’s out of whack, you feel wired or drained. WHOOP connects cortisol levels to your heart rate variability (HRV) and daily strain, helping you spot stress triggers and improve recovery.

5. Why is my strength training plateauing or libido low?

Answer: Free Testosterone. This hormone drives muscle growth, recovery, and sexual health in both men and women. Low levels can leave you sluggish or unmotivated. WHOOP links free testosterone to lean body mass and workout data, guiding you to optimise training or rest for better results.

6. Why do my mood and energy swing, or periods feel off?

Answer: Estradiol. This sex hormone affects mood, metabolism, and fertility. Imbalances can cause low energy, irregular cycles, or poor recovery. WHOOP ties estradiol to your sleep and weight trends, helping you see how hormonal shifts impact your daily performance.

WHOOP 5.0 Review: Accuracy Tests, Strain Science & Is MG Worth the Subscription for Athletes? (Nov 2025)

7. Why do I feel tired and sluggish all the time?

Answer: Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) TSH controls your thyroid, which sets your metabolism and energy levels. High TSH can signal an underactive thyroid, causing fatigue or weight gain. WHOOP shows how TSH relates to your readiness scores, so you can address low energy.

8. Why do I get winded easily during workouts?

Answer: Haemoglobin carries oxygen to your muscles and brain, fueling endurance. Low levels lead to fatigue or poor exercise capacity. WHOOP pairs haemoglobin with strain data to show when low oxygen might hold you back.

9. Am I dehydrated or overdoing protein?

Answer: BUN/Creatinine Ratio. This checks kidney function and hydration. High ratios can mean you’re dehydrated from intense training. WHOOP connects this to your strain and VO₂ Max, helping you balance fluids and protein for better performance.

10. Why is my endurance or focus fading?

Answer: Ferritin. Ferritin stores iron, which is vital for oxygen transport. Low levels cause fatigue and weak aerobic capacity, while high levels may signal inflammation. WHOOP links ferritin to your heart rate zones and endurance metrics for clearer insights.

How Fast Can I Improve My Biomarkers?

Answer: Some biomarkers, like hsCRP, shift in days with better sleep or diet. Others, like HOMA-IR or ApoB, take 3–6 months of consistent habits (e.g., exercise, nutrition). If ferritin is low, it may take months to rebuild.

Genetics can limit some markers, like Lipoprotein(a), but most respond to lifestyle. WHOOP Advanced Labs helps you track trends over time, so you can focus on habits that move the needle. Curious about your numbers? Check with WHOOP if you are a member (I think it’s USA only) or your doctor to start optimising your health today!

Where does Whoop Labs come into this?

WHOOP Advanced Labs is a health-testing service by WHOOP that measures over 65 biomarkers, including HOMA-IR, ApoB, and cortisol, to provide insights into metabolic, cardiovascular, and hormonal health. It integrates these results with WHOOP’s wearable sleep, strain, and recovery data to offer personalised, actionable health recommendations.

Not happy with a meagre list of 10? Here is the complete list of 65 biomarkers used by Whoop, linked to credible explanatory sources.

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Albumin, Albumin/Globulin Ratio, Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Basophil %, Basophils, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), BUN/Creatinine Ratio, Calcium, Carbon dioxide, Chloride, Cholesterol / HDL Ratio, Cortisol, Creatinine, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), Eosinophil %, Eosinophils, Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), Estradiol, Ferritin, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Free testosterone, Globulin (Calculated), Glucose, HDL Cholesterol, Hematocrit, Hemoglobin, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), High-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), HOMA-IR Score, Homocysteine, Insulin, Iron, Iron-Saturation, LDL Cholesterol, Lipoprotein (a), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Lymphocyte %, Lymphocytes, Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), Mean platelet volume (MPV), Monocytes %, Neutrophil %, Non-HDL Cholesterol, Platelets, Potassium, Red blood cell count (RBC), Red cell distribution width (RDW), Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), Sodium, Testosterone, Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Total Bilirubin, Total Cholesterol, Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), Total Protein, Triglycerides, Vitamin D, White blood cells (WBC), Omega-3 Index, Magnesium

WHOOP 5.0 Review: Accuracy Tests, Strain Science & Is MG Worth the Subscription for Athletes? (Nov 2025)