They strengthen your lower body, targeting your glutes and quadriceps. They also make you use your core muscles. Other muscles that benefit from squats are: Hip muscles.

Do squats really make your butt bigger?

Not exactly. What squats CAN do is tone you up. If you are on an exercise regimen that is causing you to lose body fat, then squats will likely make your butt look smaller. On the contrary, if you are on a nutrition plan and workout regimen that causes you to gain weight in muscle, your butt will likely get bigger.

Where are squats effective?

Squats mainly work your lower body, specifically your quadriceps and glutes. It's your knee position in particular — bending them to a 90-degree angle — that helps activate these muscle groups effectively. Plus, every time you squat, you engage your core as it works to stabilize your body during the movement.