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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise
Published on: March 20, 2012
Calculating metabolic energy expenditure across a wide range of exercise intensities: the equation matters
Shalaya Kipp1,1, William C Byrnes1,1, Rodger Kram1,1
1Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
Abstract:
We compared 10 published equations for calculating energy expenditure from oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production using data for 10 high-caliber male distance runners over a wide range of running velocities. We found up to a 5.2% difference in calculated metabolic rate between 2 widely used equations. We urge our fellow researchers abandon out-of-date equations with published acknowledgments of errors or inappropriate biochemical/physical assumptions.
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