Bavaria Moves – Oxygen uptake and higher life expectancy

"The VO2max test measures maximum oxygen uptake during strenuous activities. In other words, how much oxygen the body can absorb and utilise at full capacity. The abbreviation VO2max stands for the maximum amount of oxygen uptake per minute and is an important indicator of endurance and general cardiovascular health. " explains Prof. Wackerhage from the Prevention Centre. For competitive athletes, such a test is an important indicator of their own fitness. The higher the value, the better. But the VO2max value is also interesting for everyone else, because the risk of cardiovascular disease has been proven to decrease the higher the value is. It can even be linked to a higher overall life expectancy.

This is precisely why Bavaria's Minister of Health, Judith Gerlach, visited the TUM Prevention Centre and took a VO2max test. A short summary of her visit can be found at Bavaria Moves auf Instagram.