Hi there! Dr. Sarah Johnson here. I'm an exercise physiologist with over a decade of experience helping people understand and improve their fitness. I'm passionate about making fitness accessible and understandable for everyone.

You're asking about exercise METs, which is a great question! Let's dive in and explore what they mean and how they're used.

**Understanding METs: A Measure of Energy Expenditure**

MET stands for Metabolic Equivalent of Task. It's a unit of measurement that describes the energy you use at rest. To put it simply, one MET is the amount of energy your body uses while sitting quietly.

* **1 MET = 3.5 milliliters of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml/kg/min)**

While that seems technical, the key takeaway is this: **MET values provide a way to express the intensity of different physical activities relative to rest.**

How METs Work: Comparing Activities

The beauty of METs lies in their ability to provide a standardized way to compare the energy demands of various activities. Here's how it works:

* **Higher MET Value = More Intense Activity:** Activities with higher MET values require more energy and are generally considered more intense.
* Lower MET Value = Less Intense Activity: Activities with lower MET values demand less energy and are generally seen as less intense.

Let's illustrate this with some examples:

* Sleeping: Typically around 0.9 METs
* Sitting Quietly: 1 MET (by definition)
* Light Walking (about 2 mph): 2-3 METs
* **Moderate-Intensity Activities (like brisk walking, cycling, gardening):** 3-6 METs
* **Vigorous-Intensity Activities (like running, swimming laps, playing basketball):** >6 METs

Using METs to Track Your Activity

METs can be incredibly useful for tracking your physical activity levels and even estimating calorie expenditure. Here's how:


1. Activity Tracking: Many fitness trackers and apps use MET values to calculate the intensity and calories burned during your workouts.

2. Estimating Calorie Expenditure: You can use a simple formula to get a rough estimate of calories burned during an activity:

* **Calories Burned = (METs x 3.5 x body weight in kilograms x duration in hours) / 200**

Important Considerations

While METs are helpful tools, it's crucial to remember:

* Individual Variation: MET values are averages. Your individual energy expenditure during an activity will depend on factors like your fitness level, age, and body composition.
* Intensity Perception: How hard an activity feels to you (your perceived exertion) is also a valuable indicator of intensity, even if the MET value seems low.

In Conclusion

METs offer a valuable framework for understanding and comparing the intensity of different physical activities. By using MET values, you can track your activity levels, estimate calorie expenditure, and make informed decisions about your fitness routine. If you have any questions about using METs to guide your exercise choices, consult with a qualified exercise professional.
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--MET-- is another name for metabolic equivalent; a measure of exercise intensity based on oxygen consumption. More specifically, a single MET is defined as the amount of oxygen a person consumes (or the energy expended) per unit of body weight during 1 minute of rest.read more >>