VO2 max

American  

[vee-oh-too maks] / ˈviˌoʊˌtu ˈmæks /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

1. the maximum volume (V) of oxygen (O2 ) that a particular person's body can absorb and use during intense exercise, measured in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute and often used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness.

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Etymology

Origin of VO2 max

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Results showed that people with chronic fatigue syndrome took in roughly the same amount of oxygen as the control group -- their peak VO2 max was similar.

From Science Daily • Nov. 10, 2025

Altitude training can improve an athlete’s maximal oxygen consumption, or VO2 max, and lessen the effects of fatigue.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2024

Several studies reported that aerobic capacity, measured by a VO2 max test, remained unchanged after intermittent fasting in elite cyclists and runners, as well as in well-trained long-distance and middle-distance runners.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2023

Wheeler spoke with her shortly after she underwent a physiology study of high-altitude athletes focused on their VO2 max, or the maximum amount of oxygen the body can utilize during exercise.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 30, 2022

For some people, this is exactly the kind of motivation they’re looking for — not heart rate levels, or VO2 max, but simply: how much am I really moving around?

From The Verge • May 10, 2016