METS

The energy cost of an activity can be measured in units called METS, which are multiples of your basal metabolic rate.

Basal Metabolic Rate

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is "the energy required for essential physiological functioning after 8 hours sleep and 12 hours fasting" - the number of calories to keep your body functioning whilst at rest. Your BMR (Calories/day) can be estimated by multiplying your weight in pounds by ten for women and eleven for men e.g. a 150lb man has a BMR of 69 Calories/hour (150 × 11 ÷ 24).

MET values for various sports

The table below provides the MET values for a number of activities e.g. the energy cost of swimming is 8 MET, which means you use eight times more energy than if you were to lie down and rest.

Calories burned in training

With your BMR and the MET value for your particular activity, it is possible to estimate the number of calories you burn whilst participating in that activity. To do this multiply your BMR by the activity's MET value e.g. a 120lb female athlete undertaking an hours calisthenics (MET=4.5) will burn 225 calories (120 × 10 ÷ 24 × 4.5).

1 MET = 1 kcal/min = 3.5ml/kg/min

Associated Pages

The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page:

• Articles on Physiology
• Blood Pressure
• Body Fat
• Body Type
• Energy Pathways
• Ideal Weight
• Lactic Acid
• Maximum Heart Rate
• Movement Analysis
• Muscle Types
• Protein
• Range of Movement
• Vitamins
• VO2 max

Associated Books

The following books provide more information related to this topic:

• Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, G.J. Tortora et al., ISBN 0 06 046704 5
• Strength Training Anatomy, F. Delavier, ISBN 0 7360 4185 0
• Atlas of Skeletal Muscles, R.J. Stone et al., ISBN 0 697 13790 2
• The Muscle Book, P. Blakey, ISBN 1 873017 00 6
• Advanced Studies in Physical Education and Sport, P Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 4482345
• Physical Education and the Study of Sport, B. Davis et al., ISBN 0 7234 31752
• Essentials of Exercise Physiology, W.D. McArdle et al., ISBN 0 683 30507 7
• Physical Education and Sport Studies, D. Roscoe et al., ISBN 1 901424 20 0
• The World of Sport Examined, P. Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 438719 9
• Advanced PE for Edexcel, F. Galligan et al., ISBN 0 435 50643 9
• Examining Physical Education, K. Bizley, ISBN 0 435 50660 9
• Sport and PE, K Wesson et al., ISBN 0 340 683821
• PE for you, J. Honeybourne, ISBN 0 7487 3277 2

Keywords: energy, basal, metabolic, activity, sport, aerobic, pathways, lactic, exercise, calories, intensity, source, endurance, anaerobic, units, multiples, physical, education