Metabolic equivalent of task

Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) is a physiological measure that expresses the energy cost of physical activities. It is defined as the ratio of metabolic rate (and therefore the rate of energy consumption) during a specific physical activity to a reference metabolic rate, set by convention to 3.5 ml O2·kg−1·min−1, which is roughly equivalent to the energy cost of sitting quietly.

Definition

The Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) is a unit that estimates the amount of energy used by the body during physical activity, compared to the energy used at rest. One MET is defined as the energy it takes to sit quietly. For the average adult, this is about 1 calorie per every 2.2 pounds of body weight per hour.

Measurement

METs are used to estimate the energy expenditure of various activities. This can be useful for creating exercise plans, estimating calorie burn, and for other health-related calculations. The MET value of an activity is a rough estimate of the amount of energy the body uses to perform the activity. The higher the MET value, the more energy the activity requires.

Applications

METs are used in a variety of fields, including exercise physiology, cardiology, and public health. They are often used in clinical settings to prescribe and monitor exercise intensity. In public health, METs are used to quantify the intensity and duration of physical activity in epidemiological studies.

Limitations

While METs are a useful measure, they have some limitations. They do not take into account individual differences in energy expenditure, such as age, sex, body composition, and fitness level. Therefore, the actual energy cost of an activity may be higher or lower than the estimated MET value.

See also

• Physical activity level
• Exercise physiology
• Cardiology
• Public health

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