Exercise Physiology | Respiratory Quotient (RQ): What is it?

The video explains the concept of the respiratory quotient (RQ), which is the ratio of exhaled CO2 to inhaled O2, and its role in determining the predominant fuel source during exercise. It discusses how RQ values vary between 0.7 and 1, depending on whether glucose or fatty acids are being metabolized. The video also covers how exercise intensity affects RQ, with higher intensities favoring carbohydrate metabolism and lower intensities favoring fat metabolism. The importance of steady state exercise in measuring RQ is emphasized, and examples are provided to illustrate how RQ can indicate the balance of fuel sources used during different exercise intensities.

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