Abstract

We provide an updated version of the Compendium of Physical Activities, a coding scheme that classifies specific physical activity (PA) by rate of energy expenditure. It was developed to enhance the comparability of results across studies using self-reports of PA. The Compendium coding scheme links a five-digit code that describes physical activities by major headings (e.g., occupation, transportation, etc.) and specific activities within each major heading with its intensity, defined as the ratio of work metabolic rate to a standard resting metabolic rate (MET). Energy expenditure in MET-minutes, MET-hours, kcal, or kcal per kilogram body weight can be estimated for specific activities by type or MET intensity. Additions to the Compendium were obtained from studies describing daily PA patterns of adults and studies measuring the energy cost of specific physical activities in field settings. The updated version includes two new major headings of volunteer and religious activities, extends the number of specific activities from 477 to 605, and provides updated MET intensity levels for selected activities.

Keywords

CompendiumComparabilityEnergy expenditureMetabolic equivalentPhysical activityCoding (social sciences)KilogramComputer scienceBody weightStatisticsMathematicsMedicinePhysical therapyGeography

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Publication Info

Year
2000
Type
article
Volume
32
Issue
Supplement
Pages
S498-S516
Citations
8405
Access
Closed

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Barbara E. Ainsworth, William L. Haskell, Melicia C. Whitt et al. (2000). Compendium of Physical Activities: an update of activity codes and MET intensities. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise , 32 (Supplement) , S498-S516. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200009001-00009

Identifiers

DOI
10.1097/00005768-200009001-00009