VO2 Max: Use It as a Gauge, Not a Goal

VO2 max measures the body’s maximum oxygen use during intense exercise and serves as a gauge of cardio-respiratory fitness. The piece notes a surge in influencer-led calls to track VO2 max, but argues it should be treated as a guide to training rather than a target: useful for shaping workouts and monitoring progress, yet not a single definitive health metric or goal, especially given variance in lab versus wearable measurements and the influence of many factors on performance.