Metabolic Equivalent (MET) Calculator

Understanding METs

MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) is a measure of energy expenditure. One MET equals the energy cost of sitting quietly, which is approximately 3.5 mL oxygen/kg/minute or about 1 kcal/kg/hour.

METs allow comparison of different activities regardless of body weight. An activity of 5 METs means you're burning 5 times the energy you would while sitting still.

Physical Activity Guidelines

Clinical Use of METs

METs are used in cardiac stress testing to assess functional capacity:

• <5 METs: Poor functional capacity, higher mortality risk
• 5-7 METs: Fair capacity, can perform most daily activities
• 7-10 METs: Good capacity, can perform vigorous activities
• >10 METs: Excellent capacity, low cardiac risk

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