Metabolic Equivalent: Definition, History, and Further Reading
Metabolic equivalent (MET) is a unit of measure that is used to quantify the intensity of physical activity, and is one way that physical activity energy expenditure can be estimated. It is defined as the amount of energy expended in one minute of physical activity, and is typically expressed in kilocalories per kilogram of body mass per hour (kcal/kg/hr). METs can provide a more accurate estimation of energy expenditure compared to resting metabolic rate (RMR) alone.
The concept of METs originated in the late 1950s when a series of studies by A.L. Hill and colleagues determined that the energy cost of various activities could be expressed in terms of an oxygen uptake ratio. This ratio was then converted into a unit of measure, the MET, which has been widely adopted in the field of exercise science and physical activity research. Since then, several studies have been conducted to further refine the concept of METs, including the development of standardized tables of MET values for various activities.
METs have become an important tool for assessing energy expenditure, and they are widely used in clinical research studies. In addition, METs are used to provide a more accurate estimation of energy expenditure in population-level studies, such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Furthermore, METs are useful for evaluating the health benefits of physical activity, as they can provide an estimate of how much energy an individual is expending when engaging in different activities.
In conclusion, METs are a useful tool for assessing physical activity energy expenditure, and they have become an important part of research studies in the field of exercise science and physical activity.
For further reading, please see the following journal articles in APA7 style:
Hill, A. L., Lupton, H., & Parnell, J. (1924). The mechanical efficiency of muscular work. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, 106(738), 138-143.
Faria, I. P. D., de Diego, M. S., & Catai, A. M. (2010). Estimation of energy expenditure through MET level values of physical activities. Revista Brasileira de Ciências do Esporte, 32(3), 845-852.
Hassmén, P., Koivula, N., & Uutela, A. (2000). Physical activity and the metabolic syndrome. Obesity Reviews, 1(2), 131-138.
Kirwan, J. P., & Herrmann, S. D. (2017). The use of metabolic equivalent values to measure physical activity. Sports Medicine, 47(3), 441-453.