Mixed

Indexing peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) to total body mass systematically underestimates cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in women, older adults, and individuals with obesity, whereas a novel scaling metric called Exercise Body Mass (EBM) mitigates this bias.

If you are a woman, over 40, or have obesity, your standard fitness test result (VO2peak divided by your total weight) likely makes you look less fit than you actually are. To get a fair comparison of your cardiorespiratory fitness against others or your past self, use a scaling method that accounts for your height, age, and sex (like the Exercise Body Mass metric) rather than just dividing by your total body weight.