NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam

To find total METs from energy expenditure, what is the correct calculation?

1. Total energy expenditure / 5 ml/kg/min

2. Total energy expenditure x 3.5 ml/kg/min

3. Total energy expenditure / 3.5 ml/kg/min

4. Total energy expenditure + 3.5 ml/kg/min

The correct answer is: Total energy expenditure / 3.5 ml/kg/min

The calculation for determining total METs from energy expenditure is based on the understanding that MET, or Metabolic Equivalent of Task, is defined as a multiple of the resting metabolic rate. Specifically, one MET is equivalent to a person's resting oxygen consumption, which is approximately 3.5 ml/kg/min. When you need to convert total energy expenditure, usually expressed in terms of calories burned, into METs, the relationship involves the resting baseline of 3.5 ml/kg/min. To find the total METs from the total energy expenditure, you divide by this resting value. This approach effectively calculates how many times greater the energy expenditure is compared to the resting state. Thus, dividing total energy expenditure by 3.5 ml/kg/min accurately expresses energy expenditure in terms of METs, making this method the correct calculation.