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Functional
VO2 Max
Maximum rate of oxygen consumption during exercise — the single strongest predictor of all-cause mortality.
Optimal Range
Top 25th percentile for age and sex (elite: >50 mL/kg/min)
Why It Matters
VO2 max is, according to large population studies, the most powerful predictor of lifespan — exceeding smoking, diabetes, or hypertension in predictive value. Moving from the bottom 25th to the 50th percentile reduces mortality risk by ~50%.