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Related Experiment Videos

Metabolic equivalent: one size does not fit all.

Nuala M Byrne1, Andrew P Hills, Gary R Hunter

  • 1School of Human Movement Studies, Queensland Univ. of Technology, Victoria Park Rd., Kelvin Grove, Q4059, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. n.byrne@qut.edu.au

Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|April 16, 2005
PubMed
Summary

The standard 1 MET value overestimates resting metabolic rate by 35% for oxygen consumption and 20% for energy expenditure. Adjusting METs using individual resting metabolic rate (RMR) improves accuracy for physical activity energy cost estimation.

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Area of Science:

  • Exercise Physiology
  • Human Metabolism
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • The metabolic equivalent (MET) is a standard measure for quantifying the energy cost of physical activities.
  • The 1 MET value was historically based on a single individual's resting metabolic rate (RMR).
  • Extensive use of METs necessitates evaluating the accuracy of this convention across diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the adequacy of the current 1 MET convention.
  • To compare established 1 MET values with measured resting metabolic rates in a large, heterogeneous sample.
  • To assess the influence of body composition on resting metabolic rate.

Main Methods:

  • Indirect calorimetry was used to measure resting metabolic rate (RMR) in 769 healthy adults (18-74 years).

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  • Energy expenditure during treadmill walking (5.6 km/h) was measured in a subsample.
  • Statistical analysis examined the relationship between RMR, body composition, and age.

    • Main Results:

    • Measured resting VO2 (2.6 ml O2 x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and energy cost (0.84 kcal x kg(-1) x h(-1)) were significantly lower than the 1 MET standard (3.5 ml O2 x kg(-1) x min(-1) and 1 kcal x kg(-1) x h(-1)).
    • The 1 MET value overestimates actual resting VO2 by 35% and resting energy expenditure by 20% on average.
    • Body composition (fat mass and fat-free mass) explained 62% of the variance in resting VO2, while age explained only 14%.

    Conclusions:

    • The conventional 1 MET value is inadequate for accurately representing resting metabolic rate in a diverse population.
    • Individual RMR measurements or predictions are crucial for accurate energy cost estimations.
    • Adjusting MET calculations with individual RMR improves the precision of quantifying physical activity energy expenditure, particularly for moderate-intensity activities like walking.