- The number of times an activity is performed is multiplied by the number of hours spent on the activity at each session as well as its intensity defined in METs (multiples of the metabolic equivalent of sitting quietly for an hour) to arrive at a measure of total energy expenditure attributable to the activity.

- For example, if a woman reported biking once per day for 2 hours per session, this would be multiplied by 5 METs to equal 30 MET/hrs per day of energy expenditure attributable to biking.

- All activities are then summed to derive a MET-hours/day approximation for total energy expenditure.