Have you ever glanced down at your fitness watch and seen the measurement ‘VO₂ max’, or heard it brought up in conversation after your spin class and yet have been awkwardly ignorant of what it means? Fear not! Today’s article will not only answer this question, but will also prove how knowing your VO₂ max could be the key to living longer!
We all can attest to the fact that improving your cardiovascular levels has a direct correlation to reducing your risk of dying, mainly because we’ve been scientifically educated our whole lives. While that is, by all means, true, it is also an incredibly vague statement. What if you want a more precise and concrete measure? Enter VO₂ max.
So firstly, what is your VO₂ max? Put simply, it’s the maximum oxygen you use and can consume while you exercise. Essentially, it’s a measure of your endurance. It is for this reason that it’s labelled the primary marker for longevity. The measurement is taken from a test done on a bike or treadmill while connected to a machine capable of analysing your expired air. The data is then used to place you in one of five groups: low, below average, above average, high and elite. To add some context, elite endurance athletes usually have a VO₂ max above 50. So what is the motivation to get measured and strive for the above-average group? Studies show that going from the low to below-average group gives you a 50% drop in mortality over 10 years! That’s incredible!
So what number should you be striving for? It should be noted that it all depends on your age, history and current fitness level, but the average active male should aim for around 42.5-46.4 kg/min. To get even more specific, we’d recommend seeing one of our exercise specialists, as each case varies.
Benefits:
- Accurate measurement of current fitness
- Ability to design a more effective training program and/or evaluate the effectiveness
- Evaluating the effectiveness of the training program
- Predication of maximal steady-state running speed or cycling wattage
This test is available for anyone who is interested, and the Better Body Group is so incredibly proud to announce that we’re in the process of setting up our own VO₂ max testing area!
This will benefit a huge population of people and will allow our clients to enter a whole new dimension of bespoke training.
Asking yourself if this test is for you? As author and physician Peter Attia says, “if you want to have the aspiration of kicking ass when you’re 85, you can’t afford to be average when you’re 50.”
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to find out more! We all love a challenge, and what reason is more perfect than improving your life and your mortality?
