METminuten

METMinuten, or MET-minutes, is a unit used to quantify the amount of physical activity by expressing energy expenditure as the product of a metabolic equivalent (MET) value and the duration in minutes. A MET is the ratio of a person’s energy expenditure during an activity to their resting metabolic rate; 1 MET roughly equals the energy cost of sitting quietly. MET-values for activities come from the Compendium of Physical Activities, which assigns MET values to many activities (for example, walking about 3–4 MET, moderate cycling 6–8 MET, running 8–12 MET depending on pace).

MET-minutes are calculated by multiplying the activity’s MET value by the number of minutes performed. For example, 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity at 4 METs equals 120 MET-minutes. This unit is used primarily in epidemiology and public health to quantify overall weekly physical activity. A common guideline is at least 600 MET-minutes per week, achievable by 150 minutes of moderate activity at about 4 MET, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity around 8 MET, or a mix.

Limitations include that MET-values are approximate averages and do not account for individual differences in body mass, age, or efficiency. While MET-minutes estimate energy expenditure, actual calories burned equal MET × body weight × time. Self-reported activity can also introduce bias.