CrossFit is the latest prepackaged, heavily marketed workout craze to gain traction. Its aim, per crossfit.com, is “to forge a broad, general, and inclusive fitness.” CrossFit routines center around an array of disparate movements that include high-intensity interval cardio, powerlifting, gymnastics and calisthenics. In each mode, speed, high repetition and competition among practitioners is encouraged.
Because of the program’s seeming accessibility, gyms across America are now saturated with workout neophytes enticed by the CrossFit buzz. The University of Utah’s own Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse is rife with novice lifters who have, with abandon, leapt into the CrossFit method of speedy, high-repetition sets of Olympic lifts. They can be seen at any given time during Fieldhouse operating hours —recognizable by the St. Louis-esque spinal arch they exhibit while performing back-herniating, funhouse mirror distortions of deadlifts.
While it is commendable for anyone to begin an exercise regimen, experts agree CrossFit is a poor starting point. Dr. David Geier, Medical University of South Carolina’s director of sports medicine, commented on beginning weightlifters’ CrossFit-influenced attempts at advanced exercises.
“You’re getting people who haven’t done a lot of those different types of moves before,” he said. “They’re determined, no question — they don’t quit … they lose form and they get hurt.”
Dr. Michael Esco, associate professor of exercise science at Auburn University at Montegomery, sees CrossFit trainer-supervised workouts as equally dangerous.
“Even though you go to an affiliate, the coaches have a weekend certificate,” he said. “I’m in a field of academics where we teach students; it takes years to learn the proper mechanics of an Olympic lift.”
CrossFit has capitalized on popular desires for physical improvement, social inclusion, and pre-established routine, in ballooning to 5,500 affiliated gyms (most charging members $100-$200 monthly) and spawning countless unofficial adherents. But in doing so, it has placed its disciples at risk by rushing them into a program for which they lack the practice to perform without injury.
The companion dietary guide to CrossFit is rooted in another disreputable vogue —The Paleo Diet. CrossFit’s website rehashes the diet’s well-known, pseudo-scientific basis.
“Evolution has not kept pace with advances in agriculture and food processing resulting in a plague of health problems for modern man.” It continues by encouraging readers to “Search ‘Google’ for Paleolithic nutrition,” clearly unconcerned with formalities like academic journals and sourcing.
While prioritizing fruits, vegetables and other unprocessed foods is perfectly sensible, health authorities affirm that the reasoning behind the Paleo Diet is specious.
“Our ancestors ate this way and didn’t have many of the chronic diseases we do, but that doesn’t mean the food they ate is the reason why,” said Christopher Ochner, MD of the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center.
Moreover, numerous doctors have qualms with the Paleo Diet’s omission of certain healthy staples. CNN physician/nutrition specialist Dr. Melina Jampolis has various concerns with the Paleo Diet, including its “[elimination of] dairy, an affordable and widely available source of bone-building calcium,” and its barring of “all grains, including whole grains, which are a good source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and heart healthy fiber.” It would seem that eliminating entire food groups is not advisable.
Coupled with its endorsed diet, CrossFit embodies the worst in commercial health and wellness solutions. “Every fad diet thinks it has discovered the root of all evil,” said Ochner. The same can be said of every fad workout routine. The most practical approach to physical betterment remains a balanced diet paired with a cardiovascular/strength program tailored to one’s limitations.
Americans deserve praise for individually attempting to combat our pervasive public health issues, particularly our obesity epidemic. They should likewise be spared blame for latching onto trends in doing so. Marketing has made CrossFit, Paleo, P90x, South Beach and the like the most visceral and immediate exercise and nutrition vehicles. But consumers must be wary of regimens whose presumed legitimacy is the product of branding or social consensus rather than empiricism.