Explain the concept of VO2max, specifically how it is measured and what factors affect it

Answer 1

Cardiorespiratory endurance, cardiorespiratory fitness, or aerobic capacity is determined by the maximal amount of oxygen the human body is able to utilize (the oxygen uptake) per minute of physical activity (VO2max). This value can be expressed in liters per minute (L/min) or milliliters per kilogram per minute (mL/kg/min). The relative value in mL/kg/min is used most often because it considers total body mass (weight) in kilograms.
VO2max is affected by genetics, training, gender, age, and body composition. Although aerobic training can help people attain good or excellent cardiorespiratory fitness, only those with a strong genetic component are able to reach an "elite" level of aerobic capacity (60 to 80 mL/kg/min). Further, VO2max is 15-30 percent higher in men. This is related to a greater hemoglobin content, lower body fat, and larger heart size in men (a larger heart pumps more blood, and thus produces a greater stroke volume). VO2max also decreases by about 1 percent per year starting at age 25 . This decrease, however, is only 0.5 percent per year in physically active individuals.