What is a MET?

Prepare for the CSEP Certified Personal Trainer Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, all with hints and comprehensive explanations. Get fully ready for your certification exam!

A MET, or Metabolic Equivalent of Task, is a standardized unit that estimates the energy expenditure associated with various physical activities. It represents the ratio of a person's working metabolic rate to their resting metabolic rate. One MET is approximately equal to the energy expended at rest, which is about 1 kcal/kg/hour.

When engaging in different types of physical activities, the MET value helps quantify the intensity of that activity. For instance, an activity that has a MET value of 5 means that it requires five times more energy than resting. This makes MET a valuable tool for assessing exercise intensity, planning workout regimens, and understanding caloric expenditure in a way that can easily be communicated and compared across different activities.

The other options do not accurately reflect the nature of what a MET is. For instance, while body mass and muscle strength are crucial elements in fitness and health, they do not relate to the concept of MET as an energy expenditure measurement. Additionally, maximum oxygen consumption, often referred to as VO2 max, is a different metric that specifically measures the body's capacity to transport and utilize oxygen during intense exercise, which is distinct from the function of a MET.

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