VO₂ max table: ages 50–59
Percentiles describe the distribution within this group. The 50th percentile is the median; the 25th and 75th bound the middle half of values. The unit is mL of oxygen per kg of body mass per minute.
| Study percentile | VO₂ max (mL/kg/min) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 16.0 |
| 10 | 17.3 |
| 25 | 19.9 |
| 50 | 23.4 |
| 75 | 27.6 |
| 90 | 32.0 |
| 95 | 35.9 |
Historical reference from US treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise tests in participants without known cardiovascular disease. Age and sex follow the study categories. Later FRIEND references, including 2022, are available; this page explicitly identifies the 2015 dataset for checking. These are not diagnostic cutoffs or Apple categories.
Kaminsky et al. · FRIEND (2015), Table 3 ↗How Apple Watch gets this number
Apple Watch estimates VO₂ max during eligible outdoor walks, runs and hikes. It combines sensor measurements with your health profile; it does not measure respiratory gases as a laboratory test does.
Check that your age, weight and other profile information are current. A blank day is not zero fitness: there may simply be no eligible estimate. Open Cardio Fitness in Apple Health and inspect the dates before comparing periods.
How to read a value of 25.0 in this group
Hypothetical example: 25.0 mL/kg/min falls between the median of 23.4 and the 75th percentile of 27.6. That places the number between two published points; it does not assign you an exact percentile or turn a watch estimate into a personal fitness assessment.
The range from 19.9 to 27.6 describes the middle half of this sample. It is not a safety range, and being outside it does not confirm a disease. Also check how the VO₂ value was obtained before comparing measurements.
The 50–59 group avoids a direct comparison with the median for 20–29-year-olds. Age groups contain different people; their differences do not predict how much your own VO₂ max will change over time.
A comparison you can check
Two complete weeks. The same metric. Count the recorded days before interpreting the average.
| Period | Mean | Days recorded | Missing days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 39 | 3/7 | 4 |
| Week 2 | 41 | 3/7 | 4 |
This fictional example has three days with an estimate in each week. The average moves from 39 to 41. The other four days in each week are missing, not zero. Six observations alone do not establish a lasting trend.
Now ask about your own history
Connect telo to your assistant, then copy this question. Ask it to show the records behind the answer so you can check the dates, units and gaps.
Compare my VO2 max history over the last two complete 28-day periods. Show dates, source, units, days with records and means. Separate my trend from FRIEND 2015 for women aged 50–59. Do not infer that I belong to this group because I opened this page. Do not assign an exact personal percentile or a diagnosis.Free covers the last 7 days. Comparisons with older history need Pro and the available records synced from your iPhone.
With your permission, telo syncs Apple Health records to its service. Records requested in a conversation are also processed by your chosen AI service.
Common questions
What is a good VO₂ max for women aged 50–59?
This sample had a median of 23.4 and a 75th percentile of 27.6 mL/kg/min. These are comparison points from FRIEND 2015, not universal targets. Measurement method, population and individual context matter.
Does this reference apply at exactly age 50?
That age is included in the 50–59 group. The study publishes this decade; we do not interpolate to invent separate values for every age.
Why might my Apple Watch show a different category?
The watch estimates VO₂ max and uses its own age and sex categories. This table describes laboratory tests and a different reference dataset. Check your Health profile and compare trends from the same source over time.
Sources and method
- Kaminsky et al. · FRIEND (2015), Table 3
- Apple · Cardio Fitness
- FRIEND · Updated reference standards (2022)
Prepared by the telo team with AI assistance using the sources linked here. The reference tables describe their cited populations and methods. Examples are synthetic and their averages are computed from the downloadable records. This is educational material, not an individual assessment or a clinical review.