VO2max and Health provided by ACSM Health & Fitness
Filed under: Exercise Science
The Aerobics Center in Dallas, Texas, has concluded a number of investigations demonstrating that VO2max is linked to health. The researchers determined VO2max in thousands of men and women and then tracked their health for a number of years. The least fit men were 3.4 times more likely to die early compared with the fit men. The least fit women were 4.6 times more likely to die early compared with the fit women. Low fitness has been linked with the development of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cancer. The good news is that when low-fit people become more fit, their chances of developing these diseases drop dramatically.
In addition to avoiding diseases, having a healthy VO2max is an indicator of the ability to maintain independence with aging. We all have experienced a decline in VO2max as we get past our 30's. If VO2max declines below a critical point, individuals can no longer perform the tasks necessary for independent living. Maintaining an active lifestyle into later life help preserve VO2max and delays the need for assistance with activities of daily living.
1. Thompson, DL, VO2max: Links to Health and Performance. ACSM's Health & Fitness, Vol. 9/Issue 4, July/August 2005; pg. 5.