For women doing squats in BODYPUMP classes, how deep they squat and how heavy the weight don’t affect each other when it comes to which muscles are working — each factor works on its own.

Pro

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Community contributions welcome

The effect of back squat depth and load on lower body muscle activity in group exercise participants

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2024 May

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

The effect of back squat depth and load on lower body muscle activity in group exercise participants

Score: 26

DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2021.1875034

Similar Assertions

For women doing Les Mills BODYPUMP, using heavier weights (about 38% of your body weight) in squats makes certain leg muscles work harder than using lighter weights (23% of your body weight).

81%

Women doing Les Mills workouts get more muscle activation in their quads, glutes, hamstrings, and calves when they squat deeper (90 degrees) compared to a more shallow squat (125 degrees).

76%