Health & Nutrition
VO2 Max
Updated 2025-10-15
Definition
The maximum volume of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise, measured in milliliters per kilogram per minute (mL/kg/min). VO2 max is the single best predictor of cardiovascular endurance performance and a strong predictor of all-cause mortality per the Cooper Institute longitudinal studies. Elite male distance runners register 75-85 mL/kg/min; elite female runners 60-75. Untrained adults fall in the 30-45 range. Training in Zone 4-5 and high-intensity intervals are the fastest ways to raise VO2 max, with gains of 15-20% possible in three months.
Primary source: Cooper Institute fitness research
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