What is 1 MET defined as in terms of oxygen uptake?

1 MET, or Metabolic Equivalent of Task, is defined as the oxygen uptake at rest, which is equivalent to approximately 3.5 ml of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute. This standard allows healthcare professionals and fitness experts to estimate the energy expenditure of various activities relative to resting metabolic rate.

The value of 3.5 ml/kg/min is widely accepted as the baseline for aerobic metabolism while a person is at rest and provides a useful reference point for calculating the MET values of physical activities. Higher intensity activities will have corresponding MET values that are multiples of this resting value, enabling easy comparison and assessment of different exercise intensities.

Understanding this definition is crucial for interpreting exercise intensities and designing appropriate training regimens based on an individual's fitness level and energy expenditure needs.