VO2 max
Sports abbreviation · Fitness and Exercise
| Stands for | Maximal oxygen uptake |
|---|---|
| Categories | Sports |
VO2 max stands for Maximal oxygen uptake, a fitness and exercise abbreviation.
Highest rate at which the body can take in and use oxygen during intense exercise, measured in milliliters per kilogram of body weight per minute. It is a key marker of aerobic fitness and endurance potential.
Example: My smartwatch estimates my VO2 max at 48, "excellent" for my age group.
Usage notes
Laboratory tests measure gases breathed during a treadmill or bike test to exhaustion; smartwatches only estimate it. Elite cross-country skiers and cyclists have recorded values above 85. Higher VO2 max is associated with longer life expectancy in large studies.
Related abbreviations
More fitness and exercise abbreviations
- 1RM – One-rep max
- AMRAP – As many reps as possible
- BB – Barbell
- BCAA – Branched-chain amino acids
- BMR – Basal metabolic rate
- BW – Bodyweight
- C&J – Clean and jerk
- DB – Dumbbell
- DOMS – Delayed-onset muscle soreness
- EAA – Essential amino acids
- EMOM – Every minute on the minute
- EPOC – Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption