MET is a way to measure the amount of oxygen or energy used during physical activity. 1 MET is equivalent to the energy used at rest. MET can be used to compare the level of effort and energy expended during physical activity and to make fitness recommendations. However, actual energy expenditure depends on a person’s body mass, fitness level, and other circumstances. Measuring actual METs requires a treadmill test.
The metabolic equivalent of the task, known as MET or metabolic equivalent, is a frequently used concept to indicate the amount of oxygen or energy that the body uses during physical activity. A metabolic equivalent unit expresses the ratio of an average person’s metabolic rate while performing a task relative to his or her resting metabolic rate. In practical application, MET is a way to compare the level of effort and energy expended when people of different weights perform the same physical activity. The metabolic equivalent can also compare the aerobic intensity and energy expenditure of various physical activities when performed by a person.
It is conventionally agreed that 1 MET is the equivalent of the energy or oxygen the body uses at rest. One MET is considered the resting metabolic rate, or the metabolic rate at which the body consumes 3.5 milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute. In mathematical terms, 1 MET = 50 kcal/hour/m2 of body surface area.
The harder a body works during a given activity, the more oxygen is consumed and the higher the corresponding MET level. Activity between 3 and 6 METs is considered moderate intensity, such as walking the dog. A person experiences increased breathing and heart rate, and 3.5 to 7 calories are burned per minute. Vigorous activity, 6 METs or higher, burns more than 7 calories per minute and includes running and playing basketball.
The MET concept can be used to make fitness recommendations, to plan or monitor physical activity, or to measure aerobic intensity levels. For example, it is recommended that people get 500 to 1,000 MET minutes per week for good health. This is the equivalent of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 90 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week. The concept of metabolic equivalent is also useful for prescribing exercises, such as determining the activity needed for rehabilitation of patients with different conditions.
METs are estimated predictions based on controlled experiments and are highly inaccurate when applied to specific individuals. Actual energy expenditure, often described as “calories burned,” during physical activity depends on a person’s body mass, fitness level, and a variety of other circumstances. The published Metabolic Equivalent Values and MET-based exercise “calorie calculators” are averages only and should not be used by individuals. Measuring actual METs usually involves a treadmill test, in which a person wears a mask that measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide exhalation.
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