title: Compendium of physical activities: classification of energy costs of human physical activities.
abstract: A coding scheme is presented for classifying physical activity by rate of energy expenditure, i.e., by intensity. Energy cost was established by a review of published and unpublished data. This coding scheme employs five digits that classify activity by purpose (i.e., sports, occupation, self-care), the specific type of activity, and its intensity as the ratio of work metabolic rate to resting metabolic rate (METs). Energy expenditure in kilocalories or kilocalories per kilogram body weight can be estimated for all activities, specific activities, or activity types. General use of this coding system would enhance the comparability of results across studies using self reports of physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ainsworth
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Haskell
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Montoye
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sallis
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Paffenbarger
mesh_terms: D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000145:classification*