Fitness level only calculated on outdoor walking or running

Good one.
I stumbled across that problem a while ago when I regonzied that my 'fitness score' has not been updated for about 2 years now and came to the same conclusion after I actively started a 'walk'.
Usually I train Fitness and Bodybulding indoors 3 times a week though.

Same , I do weights and Pilates and rowing, yet score as low fitness. Apple Watch scores me as high

I have noticed similar issues. When I started using my watch a couple of months ago, I was well above average (44) for the first few walks. Then there was a sudden drop (39) and that's where I've been ever since. Otherwise nothing has changed in my training or sleep routines. I train 4-6 hours a week and sleep pretty well. 

I'm in the same boat, I do a lot of indoor gym training on the cross country runner and indoor cycling and none of these show up.  Yet when I went for a walk it rated my fitness level low.  Has anyone had a reply for this?

I see from other areas there are a LOT of critical comments on the healthmate app and have come to the conclusion that the users must form a group outside of the forum as it is a one-way street. We need this app sorting out and Withings are apparently shifting the to a subscription model and moving away from their own customer base. Withings need to look at the app and the web browser (where ECG's don't show in graphs) and deliver what we have paid for.

People

Fitness measure is an estimation based on VO2max, I believe. It can't be done without certain factors like weight, distance, speed, HR, ... pilates, yoga, swimming, cycling are no good because there are too many unknown factors.

VO2max is done more precisely in a lab, using a running mat, airflow mask and some other sensors and controlled environment.

Withings is claimed to be a quality product giving comparable data day to day basis.  I'm not talking about HR in this context but more complex measurements.

Apple Watch is using different algorithms for estimating VO2max than ScanWatch. The main point of all wearables is to see one's own development, not the absolute value or to compare it to other products, and definitely not to hospital grade devises.

Mikko, whilst I agree it's only an estimate, but indoor cross country running in a gym has distance and time and my question is why can't our scan watch pick that up.

I don’t know exactly what indoor cross country running means (sounds like a complicated exercise 😄) but if you are using a running mat, that might be the problem. It ads an unknown (mechanical) factor to the equation.
Try measuring your score by setting your activity to normal running. Does it come close to your fitness score?

BTW - has anyone thought that Apple Watch might be wrong and Withings is closer to real values? Or is it that the better the more correct result?

I am not trying to defend Withings. My interest is in understanding the logics of measurements and their representation in more complicated measurements than HR.

You may want to read my yesterday’s message on Withings shortcomings in several areas.

Withings is not the answer to whole person fitness assessment; go to a cardiologist who does VO2 fitness testing for that. But I do like it for the scale, the sleep and blood pressure tracking. Strava is my exercise tracker because I like the versatility and the maps for cycling (different bikes) and running, hiking, walking etc. and it tracks my swimming and yoga. Plus it’s social. Whoop was the best for “knowing me” 24x7, but after a few years I learned nothing new so it was time to save the $$. Fitness tech gets better and better, looking forward to what’s coming next!

This is really silly. Withings has access to Apple Health, which includes cycling and other workouts. I don't run, I cycle. My fitness level is consistently shown as being low which is wrong and also annoying. And there is no way to fix it, or even suppress it.