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The modified obstetric metabolic equivalent (MET): finding a MET that fits in pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 February 2012

C. G. Campbell ,
R. C. Foster ,
L. M. Lanningham-Foster  and
K. M. Smith
C. G. Campbell*
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
R. C. Foster
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
L. M. Lanningham-Foster
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
K. M. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr C. G. Campbell, PhD, RD, Sandy S. and Roy W. Uelner Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, 220 Mackay Hall, Ames, IA 50014, USA. (Email ccampbel@iastate.edu)
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Abstract

The Compendium of Physical Activities (CPA) provides the energy expenditure (EE) for hundreds of daily activities reported in metabolic equivalents (MET). It remains to be determined if the metabolic changes of pregnancy alter the use of the CPA MET (METCPA) in this population. The energy cost of rest, activities of daily living (ADL; typing, folding laundry and sweeping) and treadmill walking [2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mph (0% incline), 3.0 mph (3% incline)] were compared with the METCPA from the 2000 and 2011 CPA in 30 pregnant women (10–14 weeks gestation) using indirect calorimetry (IC). The METCPA for each activity was compared against two measured IC values: METabsolute (3.5 ml O2/kg/min) and METratio (EEactivity/EErest). Means for both comparisons were tested by one-sample t-test. Measured MET correlated with the 2011 METCPA: METabsolutev. METCPAR2 = 0.906, P < 0.0001; METratiov. METCPAR2 = 0.861, P < 0.0001. Differences between measured MET values and the 2011 METCPA ranged from 16% underestimation to 48% overestimation. Using the absolute definition, the METCPA significantly overestimated the ADL (P < 0.0005); yet, no significant differences were found between walking at 0% grade and METCPA. Conversely, only folding laundry was significantly different with the ratio definition, whereas walking at a level grade was significantly underestimated (P < 0.0001). Similar observations were found using the 2000 CPA. The use of the METCPA to estimate EE in pregnant women can result in significant over- or underestimation, depending on the activity and the definition of the MET that is used.

Keywords

energy expenditureindirect calorimetryphysical activity assessmentprenatal exercise
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 3 , Issue 3 , June 2012 , pp. 159 - 165
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2012

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