Fitness
Converting to metabolic equivalents
One metabolic equivalent is the oxygen cost of sitting quietly, taken as 3.5 millilitres per kilogram per minute.
The Formula
METs = VO2max / 3.5
One metabolic equivalent is the oxygen cost of sitting quietly, taken as 3.5 millilitres per kilogram per minute.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| METs | Metabolic equivalents | METs | How many times resting metabolism the effort represents. |
| VO2max | Maximum oxygen uptake | mL/kg/min | Millilitres of oxygen per kilogram per minute. |
What Each Symbol Means
METsMETs
Metabolic equivalents
How many times resting metabolism the effort represents.
VO2maxmL/kg/min
Maximum oxygen uptake
Millilitres of oxygen per kilogram per minute.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate vo2 max page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate VO2 Max, filed under Health. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.