We Asked College Students 100 Fitness Questions- Are They Clueless?

Quick Overview

University of Michigan students and staff correctly answered 69 out of 100 exercise science questions posed by Dr. Mike of RP Strength, resulting in an initial score of 69% for the college in this series.

Key Points: The University of Michigan group scored 69 out of 100 questions correctly, establishing their initial score for this series. Students correctly stated that soreness is not required for muscle growth and that planned rest days improve progress. One student correctly identified that alcohol counts towards calories, stating it has "7k calories per gram," which Dr. Mike confirmed was correct. The consensus was that static stretching before max effort strength feats reduces the probability of getting the lift, with one respondent correctly stating it makes the person "Weaker." Regarding sleep, students correctly noted that naps do not fully replace total nightly sleep because one does not get all the necessary REM cycles. The group incorrectly believed that cold water immersion right after lifting helps muscle growth, when the correct answer is that it hurts growth. When asked about high fructose corn syrup, the correct answer received was that it is similar to sugar when calories match, as it has a similar monosaccharide breakdown to honey.

Context: Dr. Mike from RP Strength visited the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor to quiz students and staff on 100 exercise science questions, intending to gauge their knowledge base in the field. The segment involved rapid-fire questioning, often interspersed with humorous or off-topic exchanges, including personal questions and discussions about pop culture or unrelated topics like astrophysics and personal habits.

Detailed Analysis

Dr. Mike administered an exercise science quiz to University of Michigan students and staff, ultimately finding they answered 69 out of 100 questions correctly, giving them a score of 69%. Specific correct answers included that soreness is not required for muscle growth, planned rest days are important for gains, and static stretching before heavy lifting reduces strength output. Students also correctly understood that deep knee flexion moves like deep squats are better for quads due to the stretch, and that a deficit is still required for optimal fat loss even when using super-physiologic doses of androgens. However, the group missed several points, notably believing cold water immersion after lifting helps muscle growth (it hurts) and that cheat days reliably boost fat loss (they hurt fat loss efforts). Furthermore, one participant demonstrated high confidence while incorrectly stating that sleep naps can fully replace nightly sleep, and another incorrectly believed that EMG amplitude predicts hypertrophy very well.