VO2Max

VO₂ max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise and a measure of aerobic fitness.

• Units and targets: It is expressed as milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute. Galpin gives a minimum of about 35 for men and 30 for women, and says he’d like to see men above 50 and women above 50 as higher targets. 1
• How to measure it: A lab test uses a face mask to collect exhaled gases during a maximal exercise protocol. Estimates can also come from the 12-minute Cooper test—cover as much distance as possible—or the Rockport one-mile walk test, using the walk time and finishing heart rate. 2
• What it reflects: VO₂ max is calculated from cardiac output and the difference in oxygen content between arterial and venous blood, reflecting oxygen delivery and uptake during exercise. 3