Table 6 Maximal heritability estimates from family studies (includes variance explained by genetic and non-genetic sources shared within families)

Fat mass (kg)

Rice T (1999)

0%^a

Trunk skin folds (cm)

Perusse L (2000)

21% (14 to 28%)

Extremity skin folds (cm)

Perusse L (2000)

15% (5 to 25%)

Subcutaneous fat (sum of eight skin folds) (cm)

Perusse L (2000)

15% (8 to 22%)

Trunk to extremity skin fold ratio (adjusted for subcutaneous fat)

Perusse L (2000)

14% (10 to 18%)

Waist circumference (cm) (adjusted for BMI)

Perusse L (2000)

0%^a

Absolute VO₂ max (L.min⁻¹)

Bouchard C (1999)

47%^a

Absolute VO₂ max at ventilatory threshold (L.min⁻¹)

Gaskill SE (2001)

Caucasian: 22% (−2 to 46%)

African-American: 51 (27% to 75%)

Relative VO₂ max (mL.min⁻¹.kg⁻¹)

Perusse L (2001)

50 W: 57%^a

60% VO₂ max: 23%^a

80% VO₂ max: 44%^a