Open AccessMetabolic equivalent of task (METs) thresholds as an indicator of physical activity intensity
Author(s) -
Márcio de Almeida Mendes,
Inácio Crochemore Mohnsam da Silva,
Virgílio Viana Ramires,
Felipe Fossati Reichert,
Rafaela Costa Martins,
Rodrigo Wiltgen Ferreira,
Elaine Tomasi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0200701
Subject(s) - metabolic equivalent , intensity (physics) , cycle ergometer , physical activity , medicine , physical fitness , vo2 max , receiver operating characteristic , statistics , physical therapy , demography , mathematics , blood pressure , heart rate , physics , quantum mechanics , sociology
The purpose of the study was to identify and compare validity parameters of different absolute intensity thresholds in METs, using relative intensity classification as criterion measure. Convenience sampling was used to recruit total of 112 adults. The participants carried out an incremental maximal cycle ergometer test and asked to perform nine free-living activities. The oxygen uptake was measured by a VO2000 ® gas analyser throughout the tests. The intensity thresholds were identified using Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, having relative intensity categories as criterion measure. A total of 103 participants attended the two visits. Among 54 men and 49 women, the mean (± SD) ages were 36.1 (± 11.1) and 33.9 (± 10.6) years, respectively. The intensity thresholds identified were 4.9 METs for moderate and 6.8 METs for vigorous physical activity. In conclusion, the physical activity thresholds, generated according to the entire sample, were higher and presented improved specificity when compared to thresholds currently recommended. Moreover, these parameters presented relatively high accuracy, even when applied to specific groups such as sex, age, nutritional status and physical fitness.