Which exercise is most appropriate for targeting the gluteus maximus?

The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the buttocks and plays a crucial role in various lower body movements. Among the exercises listed, squats are particularly effective at targeting this muscle because they require hip extension, which is the primary action of the gluteus maximus. During a squat, as you lower your body and then push back up to a standing position, the gluteus maximus is heavily engaged to help extend the hips and provide stability.

On the other hand, leg curls primarily target the hamstring muscles, leg extensions focus on strengthening the quadriceps, and calf raises target the calf muscles. None of these exercises effectively isolate or recruit the gluteus maximus in the same way that squats do. Therefore, squats are considered the most appropriate exercise for directly targeting and strengthening the gluteus maximus.