What is the true statement about the respiratory exchange ratio?

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Multiple Choice

What is the true statement about the respiratory exchange ratio?

Explanation:
The crucial idea is that the respiratory exchange ratio is the ratio of carbon dioxide produced to oxygen consumed, derived from gas exchange during respiration. This value tells you which fuel the body is using: around 0.7 indicates mostly fat oxidation, about 1.0 indicates carbohydrate oxidation, and resting values are typically near 0.8. It’s determined by analyzing the gases you expire, not by heart rate, hydration status, or how fast you breathe (ventilation rate). In intense exercise, RER can rise above 1 due to buffering of lactic acid, but the basic definition remains VCO2 divided by VO2, which is why this statement is the correct one.

The crucial idea is that the respiratory exchange ratio is the ratio of carbon dioxide produced to oxygen consumed, derived from gas exchange during respiration. This value tells you which fuel the body is using: around 0.7 indicates mostly fat oxidation, about 1.0 indicates carbohydrate oxidation, and resting values are typically near 0.8. It’s determined by analyzing the gases you expire, not by heart rate, hydration status, or how fast you breathe (ventilation rate). In intense exercise, RER can rise above 1 due to buffering of lactic acid, but the basic definition remains VCO2 divided by VO2, which is why this statement is the correct one.

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