# Increases testosterone/growth hormone from squatting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increases-testosterone-growth-hormone-from-squatting/315739 "2005-08-05T17:07:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Thin\_Lizzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@Thin\_Lizzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Lizzy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increases-testosterone-growth-hormone-from-squatting/315739/1 "2005-08-05T17:07:37Z")
I have read from several sources that squatting or working legs increases testosterone or growth hormone. Does anyone know of a study that shows this? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increases-testosterone-growth-hormone-from-squatting/315739/2 "2005-08-05T17:21:37Z")
[Perhaps, acutely](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15831061&query_hl=1). In the long term, however, it’s much harder to predict. If someone was obese and then starts an exercise program, I’d expect (free) testosterone levels to fall. OTOH, with excessive long term exericse, in women, estrogen levels may decline. ---
**Author:** ![SavageNarce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@SavageNarce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SavageNarce)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increases-testosterone-growth-hormone-from-squatting/315739/3 "2005-08-05T18:53:44Z")
If this were true (and repeatable), all the catchers in baseball would automatically transfer to basketball. Not in my experience…