Mixed
Standardized endurance training significantly increases maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) across all demographic groups, with no significant difference in absolute trainability between men and women, blacks and whites, or across age groups (17-65 years).
If you are sedentary, starting a structured endurance program (like cycling or running) 3 times a week for 20 weeks will significantly improve your cardiovascular fitness, regardless of whether you are young or old, male or female, or Black or White. Do not let demographic myths stop you from training; your body will adapt.
V˙ O2 max increased significantly for all groups. Responses by men and women and by blacks and whites of all ages varied widely. There was no sex difference for change (D) in V˙ O2 max... Blacks began with lower values but had similar responses. Older subjects had a lower D but a similar percent change... Age, sex, race, and initial fitness have little influence on V˙ O2 max response to standardized training in a large heterogeneous sample of sedentary black and white men and women.
Why this rating
Large sample size (n=633 complete data), randomized controlled trial design with standardized protocol, rigorous statistical analysis (ANOVA), and multi-center replication.
Source
Age, sex, race, initial fitness, and response to training: the HERITAGE Family Study
James S. Skinner et al. · Journal of Applied Physiology · 2001
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