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Abstract: Objective. – Verify the validity of some of the equations used to determine the resting metabolism and the usual value of oxygen consumption (1 MET). Methods. – Ten active males (age 23.9±2.13) and ten active females (age 23.2±1.61) participated in the evaluation of their resting metabolism by indirect calorimetry (Vacumed Gas Analyser:Ventura, CA). Results. – Eighty percent of the subjects had a lower resting metabolism than what it would have been with the equation of Harris and Benedict or Black et al. Results were also lower (P <0.01) than the estimated resting metabolism in terms of oxygen consumption. The average consumption for women was 2.48 ml/kg per minute (±0.6) and 2.66 ml/kg per minute (±0.71) for men, both far from the classical value of one MET (3.5 ml d''O2/kg per minute). Conclusions. – It is necessary to re-evaluate the equation used to predict resting metabolism to better fit the current population''s energy expenditure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]