New York Times article warns against exercising after Hegseth, RFK Jr promote fitness challenge

The New York Times warned readers against exercising too hard after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr challenged Americans to try to do 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups in 10 minutes. This breaks down to around 10 push-ups and 5 pull-ups a minute

The article cites "expert" opinions on the matter, saying, "Fitness experts caution against jumping into a difficult routine suggested by Robert F Kennedy Jr and Pete Hegseth."

The pair dubbed it the "Pete and Bobby Challenge," and videos of the routine were widely shared on social media. The article from the corporate news outlet was mocked online, with many pointing out that the Times was suggesting that pushing yourself during exercise is not a good thing—though the outlet advocated for just that 2014.

In an article published in 2014, the Times said, "For Fitness, Push Yourself," indicating that one needs to reach for their limits when working out to make more progres. The report reviewed a study that concluded, "Intense exercise changes the body and muscles at a molecular level in ways that milder physical activity doesn’t match." 

The coverage of Pete and Bobby's workout challenge was in stark contrast to the Times' coverage of Michelle Obama's workout routine after former President Obama "issued a good-natured challenge to his wife last week as part of her '#GimmeFive' campaign on healthy living," the outlet published in 2015.  

The former first lady's workout routine that she posted a the time consisted of jump rope, medicine ball crunches, jump squats, boxing, and dumbell incline press. Her First Lady initiative was around fitness and health.

The Times article critical of Kennedy and Hegseth also appeared to take issue with Americans trying out many "strict" pull-ups, because "pushing for such high numbers without the necessary strength foundation can quickly lead to poor form, overcompensation and a high risk of injury, including serious muscle strains or tears," a fitness expert told the outlet. However, when keeping "strict" form in such challenges, the risk of injury is usually low.

“Fitness experts said Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Hegseth were trying to do standard pull-ups, rather than employing ‘kips’ or the ‘butterfly’ movement,” the Times added in the piece, indicating the pair were encouraging those watching to keep more strict pull-up form.

The Times appeared to lean more towards “kipping” pull-ups, or pull-ups done with momentum, and drew lines between the challenge and "CrossFit" style workouts, even though the outlet cited CrossFit athletes saying that there has to be a gradual increase in volume to build up to such challenges.

The outlet said this is because “kipping” pull-ups can be "considerably easier on the shoulders and arms," even though they are "difficult to master."

"Kipping" pull-ups, however, are cited as one of the most common exercises that lead to upper extremity injuries in CrossFit, according to a study from the NIH from 2022. The exercise has a large reputation for causing shoulder injuries, much more than standard pull-ups.

Thomas Stevenson was previously certified by ISSA as a personal trainer.