|
|
|
| Appendix C - METs Explanation and Formulas | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| METs |
|
| As stated earlier, the MET is a unit of exercise measurement that | |||
|
| ||||||
Explanation |
|
| takes into account body weight. Since energy expenditure in a | ||||
| and |
|
| ||||
Formulas |
|
| directly proportional to body weight, the formulas to calculate METs | ||||
|
|
|
| are a bit simpler than for, say, an exercise bike. For example, 7 mph | |||
|
|
|
| running is always 11.7 METs, no matter who you are. | |||
|
|
|
| A MET is defined as 3.5 ml/min/kg of oxygen usage by the body, | |||
|
|
|
| where: | |||
|
|
|
| ml is milliliters, the actual measured volume of gaseous oxygen | |||
|
|
|
| min is minutes | |||
|
|
|
| kg is bodyweight in kilograms | |||
|
|
|
| This energy consumption rate corresponds to about 72 calories per | |||
|
|
|
| hour for a | |||
|
|
|
| metabolic rate of the general population. | |||
|
|
|
| The best formulas for treadmill energy expenditure also use oxygen | |||
|
|
|
| usage by the body, or VO2. The two formulas are: | |||
|
|
|
| walking VO2 = (2.68 * speed) + (0.48 * speed * incline) + 3.5 | |||
|
|
|
| running VO2 = (5.36 * speed) + (0.24 * speed * incline) + 3.5 | |||
|
|
|
| To get METs, divide the result by 3.5. | |||
|
|
|
| (Noted exercise physiologist David Costill's speed constants for | |||
|
|
|
| walking and running are 3.06 and 4.86, respectively.) | |||
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z 8 a n d Z 9 S e r i e s Tr e a d m i l l O w n e r ' s G u i d e
89