Their actual argument is that the arms don't sit exactly to the sides of the body like in a Lego man, which is true. The armpit example is just a little exercise people can do at home to convince themselves of this fact. If you don't like it, just take a look at a human being. There is more flesh in the back than in the front, the arm has a wider range of movement in the front, etc.
I also take exception to your use of "bro science" as a derogative. Bro science is most common in the fields of exercise and nutrition, and if you look at the resulting bro bodies, they are strong and athletic. Meanwhile, academic nutritionists have presided over a public health disaster that has left the majority of Americans grossly unhealthy and obese. The experimental conclusion is that bro science is far superior to academic science.
> Now, if you doubt your arms are on the front of your body, stand in front of a mirror and raise your arms -in their most comfortable position over your head-…where are your armpits? If you’re like every other human on the planet, your armpits are facing you, dead center. If your arms really were on the sides of your body (the way sleeves and armholes are cut) you’d have to turn sideways to see your armpits.
Which is a load of bollocks. It doesn't take more than a minute or two of studying anatomy diagrams to see that. Are they centered horizontally like a lego figure when viewed from the side so they bisect the volume? No, in fact the shoulder joint is BEHIND most of the volume in the torso when viewed from the side; so the humerus hangs roughly in line with the spine. Most of the rib cage(and pecs), abdominal cavity, and etc are forward the head of the humerus.
The real reason the you can see your arm pits when you lift your arms over your head? The insertion point for the pecs in the humerus draws closer to the mid-line as the arm is externally rotated and raised while at the same time the scapula is rotated up and out pushing the lateral border and all the meat away from the mid-line. Effectively the front wall of the "pit" collapses exposing the built up back wall.
> and if you look at the resulting bro bodies, they are strong and athletic
I mean.. That's a primary ingredient in the spread of broscience isn't it? The credibility "results" lends to bullshit? cough supplement industry cough.
I like the snark in the second paragraph, but I don't think you can draw your conclusions so easily.
Both bro science and academic nutritionists tell you that exercise is good for you. Bros are much more likely to take that advice than the average person.
Whether that different predisposition explains the whole difference in outcomes or not is a much more complicated question. It's all terribly confounded.
(You might very well be right, but your argument ain't tight.)
I also take exception to your use of "bro science" as a derogative. Bro science is most common in the fields of exercise and nutrition, and if you look at the resulting bro bodies, they are strong and athletic. Meanwhile, academic nutritionists have presided over a public health disaster that has left the majority of Americans grossly unhealthy and obese. The experimental conclusion is that bro science is far superior to academic science.