VO2 Max

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What is this? 

Your VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body is able to consume during exercise.

Why is it important?

VO2 max is generally considered to be the best indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness (the efficiency of your heart and lungs) and very useful for setting training goals and monitoring your progress. Regular exercise can improve your VO2 max and is linked to reduced risk of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression, and osteoporosis. Boosting your VO2 max could also have a positive effect on your mental well-being and cognitive performance.

Normative ranges

VO2 max varies according to age, gender and body composition (percentages of fat, bone, water and muscle in your body). In general:

• VO2 max decreases with age.

• Women on average have a 15% to 30% lower VO2 max than men.

• In aerobically/endurance-trained individuals, an increase in lean body mass may result in increased VO2 max.

Here is a reference table that shows the distribution of  VO2 max (in ml/kg/min) according to different age and gender classifications. For example, if your VO2 max matches the fifth percentile, only 5% of your peer group have a VO2 max lower than yours. Similarly, if you are at the 95th percentile, 95% of your peer group have a VO2 max lower than yours.