International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) Trainer Practice Exam 2025 - Free Trainer Practice Questions and Study Guide

A MET, or Metabolic Equivalent of Task, represents a unit of energy expenditure used in exercise science. It defines how much oxygen is used by the body at rest compared to during physical activities. Specifically, 1 MET is the rate of energy expenditure while sitting quietly and is equivalent to approximately 3.5 milliliters of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight per minute.

This concept allows health and fitness professionals to gauge the intensity of different physical activities and facilitate personalized training regimens based on an individual's fitness level and energy expenditure goals. By using METs, one can easily convert various activities into a common metric, making it easier to plan workouts that meet specific fitness objectives.

The other options provided do not accurately define a MET: measuring heart rate focuses on cardiovascular response rather than energy expenditure; body composition analysis looks at fat and muscle ratios, which is distinct from energy metrics; and calculating muscle mass is unrelated to the concept of energy expenditure thresholds outlined by METs.