• MET = metabolic equivalent
• the ratio of the work metabolic rate to resting metabolic rate
  • one MET -> 1kcal/kg/hour
    • roughly equivalent to the energy cost of sitting quietly
  • a MET is also defined as oxygen uptake in ml/kg/min with one MET = 3.5ml/kg/min -> oxygen cost of sitting quietly
• compendium
• used in epidemiological studies

Intensity

MET-values

PA volumes

• MET values often used to estimate PA volume or energy expenditure in studies using surveys to measure PA
  • Simple way to report PA level in one number
  • Used to examine associations PA – range of health outcomes
• E.g. 30 min jogging & 10 min rope jumping à PA volume
  • 30 x 7 METs + 10 x 10 METs = 310 MET.minutes
    • 310 MET.minutes/60 mins = 5.2 MET.hours
  • 0.5 x 7 METs + 0.15 x 10 METs = 5.2 MET.hours
• E.g. 90 minutes walking at 5.5km/h --> PA volume
  • 90 x 3.6 METs = 324 MET.minutes

PAL volumes

• PAL = physical activity level
  • average daily EE expressed as a multiple of 1 MET
    • = total daily EE/RMR
  • typically ranges from 1.1 to 2.4

Example

• 1 MET - RMR
  • 24 hours -> 24.0
• Person does
  • 8 hours sleep - 0.9 MET
  • 7 hours sedentary - 1.5 MET
  • 5 hours light - 2.0 MET
  • 3 hours moderate - 4.0 MET
  • 1 hour vigorous - 7 MET
    • Total = 7.2 + 10.5 + 10.0 + 12.0 + 7.0 = 46.7
      • PAL = 46.7/24.0 = 1.9