What does VO2 max refer to?

VO2 max refers to maximum oxygen consumption, which is a key indicator of an individual's aerobic fitness level. It represents the highest amount of oxygen that the body can utilize during intense exercise, indicating the efficiency of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems in delivering oxygen to the muscles.

Higher VO2 max values are typically associated with better physical performance in endurance activities, allowing individuals to sustain harder exercise for longer periods. This measurement is often used in exercise science to assess an athlete's endurance capacity and can be influenced by several factors, including genetics, training status, and overall health.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately define VO2 max. Maximum heart rate refers to the highest heart rate an individual can achieve during intense exercise, minimum oxygen intake does not relate to a specific measurement used in fitness, and average lung capacity pertains to the volume of air the lungs can hold but is not a measure of oxygen consumption during exercise.