What is VO2 a measure of?

VO2 is a measure of the volume of oxygen the body consumes during physical activity. It is a crucial metric in exercise physiology as it reflects how well the body can uptake and utilize oxygen to produce energy, particularly during aerobic exercise. The higher the VO2 value, the more efficient the body is at utilizing oxygen, which often correlates with improved cardiovascular fitness and endurance performance.

Additionally, VO2 is essential for determining aerobic capacity and efficiency in both healthy individuals and those undergoing rehabilitation or fitness training. Understanding a person's VO2 can guide exercise programming and track improvements over time. Other terms related to respiration and heart function are important but focus on different aspects of physiology and do not specifically measure oxygen consumption.