VO2 Max: The Fitness Benchmark Tied to Longevity

VO2 max, the oxygen consumption metric hailed as the 'gold standard of fitness,' holds a surprising key to unlocking longevity—yet most people never measure it.

VO2 max measures oxygen consumption during exercise and is the 'gold standard metric of fitness' according to Dr. William Cornwell. The metric declines by ~10% per decade in adulthood and ~20% per decade in senior years, mirroring the body's natural aging process.

Exercise guidelines recommend 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity activity to reduce disease risk, with Dr. Cornwell noting that meeting these targets significantly lowers health risks regardless of weight.

Dr. Cornwell said:

"If somebody were to ask how fit they are, there are a lot of ways people might describe their fitness level—maybe they can run a mile in five minutes or bench press 300 pounds—but VO2 max is the gold standard metric of fitness."

While wearable devices offer convenient VO2 max estimates, Dr. Cornwell cautions that these often diverge from clinical cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET).

He observed mixed results in patient data, with some wearables aligning closely with CPET measurements and others showing no correlation.

Dr. Cornwell said:

"I've seen many patients where their wearable matches closely with VO2s that I measure directly on a formal CPET. And then I have many patients where they don't match at all."

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