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Can Health Be Measured By Level of Physical Activity?
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Posted on: 08/25/2006
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Exercise physiologists and nutritionists teamed up in this study to review a system often used to measure the intensity of physical activity. The system is called the Metabolic Equivalent of the Task or MET.
MET is calculated based on energy expended and resting metabolic rate (RMR) for each activity. The RMR is the rate at which the average person burns calories when at rest. For each individual, one MET is equal to that person’s RMR. Brushing the teeth and eating are in the one to two MET range. Moderate exercise such as walking a mile in 30 minutes is usually in the three to six MET range.
The MET system was based on the RMR of young, thin men with a TBF content of about 10 per cent. For people with greater TBF content, the standard MET system may not be an accurate measure of TEE.
In this study, researchers explore what happens when the MET system is used with heavy or obese subjects. Previous studies have shown that the MET system underestimates energy use in people who are overweight.
Two groups of women who gained weight over a one-year period of time were studied. One group lost weight and then gained it back. The second group gained weight during a pregnancy. The type of weight gain was different between the two groups. Group one increased in fat content while the pregnant group increased in mass more than fat.
It was expected that results would be different for these two groups. In fact, the results of this study showed that as a person's total body fat (TBF) increased, the calculated total energy expended (TEE) became more and more inaccurate. Other studies support these findings and show the results are the equally inaccurate for men and for women.
The authors conclude that a modified MET system for overweight or obese individuals is needed. The effect of body fat content on RMR must be considered when calculating the TEE. As body fat content goes up, the estimated energy used is underestimated. Future studies are needed to compare TEE of people with different amounts of body fat engaging in various levels of activity.
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References:
Elisabet Forsum, PhD, et al. Calculation of Energy Expenditure in Women Using the MET System. In Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. August 2006. Vol. 38. No. 8. Pp. 1520-1525.
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