VO2 Max & Longevity: The Most Important Biomarker for Healthspan in Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe & Kansas City

The Longevity Metric Smart People in Kansas City Are Watching: VO₂ Max

At EvoHealth Functional & Longevity Medicine in Overland Park, Kansas, we help individuals across Leawood, Olathe, Prairie Village, and the Kansas City metro improve healthspan and performance through precision longevity testing.
One of the most powerful yet misunderstood markers we prioritize is VO₂ max.

VO₂ max is not just a “fitness number.”
It is the strongest predictor of lifespan and healthspan ever studied.

Multiple studies show that improving VO₂ max has a larger protective effect on long-term mortality than quitting smoking. For patients serious about longevity in Johnson County and Kansas City, it is a core health and performance marker — and it’s measurable, trainable, and trackable.

At EvoHealth Functional Medicine in Overland Park, Kansas, we use the Peter Attia “Centenarian Decathlon” framework to anchor your exercise and longevity plan. The objective is simple:

Build the physical capacity today that you will need to live powerfully at 85, 90, and beyond.

Why VO₂ Max Matters for Lifespan and Healthspan

The Data Is Clear

Studies consistently show VO₂ max is one of the strongest predictors of:

• Cardiovascular disease risk

• All-cause mortality

• Cognitive decline and dementia

• Metabolic health and insulin sensitivity

• Functional longevity (living independently, moving without limitations)

Elite aerobic fitness isn’t required. But being in the top 25 percent for your age dramatically changes your long-term health trajectory.

VO₂ Max Declines With Age — Unless You Intervene

VO₂ max naturally falls ~10% per decade after 30. Without targeted training, that curve becomes steep. But the good news:

With the right prescription, you can maintain and even increase VO₂ max in midlife and beyond.

That’s the foundation of our performance-longevity model at EvoHealth.

The Peter Attia Exercise Framework We Use at EvoHealth

Our Longevity Prescription integrates four pillars Attia emphasizes:

1. Zone 2 Training (Aerobic Base)

2. VO₂ Max Intervals (High-Intensity Work)

3. Strength Training

4. Stability & Mobility

Each category protects a different pillar of long-term health.

Zone 2 Training

This is low-intensity cardio that improves mitochondrial function and fat metabolism.

Typical goal:
3+ hours per week
Heart rate zone where you can speak in full sentences, not sing.

Outcome:
Better insulin sensitivity, metabolic health, and mitochondrial efficiency.

VO₂ Max Intervals

Short, maximal-effort efforts to raise your ceiling of cardiovascular performance.

Typical protocol:
4-6 intervals of 2-4 minutes at ~90-95% maximum heart rate

Outcome:
Improved aerobic capacity and resilience against cardiovascular disease.

Strength Training

Preserves muscle mass, bone density, and metabolic rate.

Target:
2-3 sessions weekly focusing on compound movements and progressive overload

Outcome:
Reduced frailty, improved glucose control, enhanced long-term independence.

Stability & Mobility

Protects joint mechanics, balance, and movement quality.

Outcome:
Reduced injury risk, improved aging-athlete performance.

This integrated model is how we build a functional centenarian.

Who Benefits From VO₂ Max Optimization?

This strategy is essential for individuals who:

• Want to maximize lifespan and healthspan

• Feel fatigued or plateaued in fitness

• Have family history of cardiovascular disease or dementia

• Are undergoing metabolic optimization or weight loss

• Are high-achieving professionals wanting peak physical and cognitive output

• Are 35-65 and serious about aging with vigor

In Kansas City and Overland Park, the demand for advanced longevity programs is accelerating — but most clinics still operate reactively.

Longevity is proactive medicine.
You don’t wait for decline. You train against it now.

The EvoHealth Approach to Longevity & VO₂ Max

We combine:

• VO₂ max testing and lactate threshold analysis

• Functional medicine lab panels

• Mitochondrial and metabolic optimization

• Hormone evaluation when indicated

• Personalized cardiovascular prescriptions

• Nutrition plans aligned with metabolic goals

• Strength programming based on mobility, bone density, and sarcopenia risk

The result:
A data-driven plan that builds health span, not just lifespan.

Longevity isn’t about living longer.
It’s about moving powerfully through life.

Ready to Increase Your VO₂ Max and Build Your Longevity Engine in Kansas City?

If you’re ready to:

• Measure your true fitness baseline

• Improve aerobic and metabolic efficiency

• Increase lifespan and healthspan

• Build the physical capacity to thrive for decades

We invite you to schedule a longevity consultation at EvoHealth.

Kansas City’s leading functional & longevity medicine clinic
13801 Metcalf Ave Suite 205
Overland Park, KS

 Schedule your consultation: 913-404-2193