Correction factors for the calculation of metabolic equivalents (MET) in overweight to extremely obese subjects

The metabolic equivalent (MET) is a construct that is commonly used to quantify physical activity as well as exercise performance. ‘One MET’ is equal to a resting oxygen uptake of 3.5 ml O2 kg −1 min − 1 . However, this assumption is unlikely valid in obese subjects. The aim of our study was to quantify the difference between calculated and measured METs in overweight to severely obese subjects and to provide body mass index (BMI)-specific MET correction factors.

Subjects/Methods:

Resting oxygen uptake (VO2-REE) was measured in 1331 patients with a BMI >25 kg m −2 (72.0% women; age: 42.5±13.0 years; BMI: 42.5±7.0 kg m − 2 ) by indirect calorimetry and MET-REE, that is, VO2-REE related to body weight was calculated. Six hundred and fifty-two subjects (70.9% women) additionally underwent a bicycle cardiopulmonary exercise test for measurement of maximal MET (MET peak).

Results:

Conclusions:

Data indicate that the commonly used 1-MET value of 3.5 ml O2 kg − 1 min − 1 largely overestimates values in overweight to severely obese subjects. Our correction factors can help to reduce this systematic error and thus appear to be valuable for clinical practice as well as research studies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital, St Gallen, Switzerland B Wilms
  2. Exercise Physiology Lab, Institute of Human Movement Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland B Wilms
  3. eSwiss Medical and Surgical Center, St Gallen, Switzerland B Ernst, M Thurnheer & B Schultes
  4. Institute of Sport Science, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany B Weisser
  1. B Wilms