What Body Type Am I?
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In the 1940s, William H. Sheldon introduced his theory of somotypes. His theory proposed 3 body types with a specific description associated with it. Although not every person fits into one category perfectly, there tends to be one that is more predominant. The quick answer is three main body types are listed below.
Body Types
What Body Type Am I? Here are the body types.
Ectomorph
Overall, this type is a long/lean body type, sometimes referred to as lanky. Due to their body type, ectomorphs tend to have difficulty with building muscle. Individuals with this body type have characteristics that include:
Ectomorph Body Type
Delicate frame and bone structure
- Narrow shoulders and hips
- Thin, narrow face, chest and abdomen
- Long limbs
- Very little body fat
- Thin legs and arms
- Small joints (wrist, ankles)
- Fast metabolism
Mesomorph
Those with a mesomorph body type are well-built with very defined muscles. They usually have a high metabolism and increased response of muscle cells. Other characteristics displayed are:
Mesomorph Body Type
- Large head, broad shoulders, narrow waist
- Muscular body, with strong forearms and thighs
- Very little body fat
- Great bodybuilding potential
- Long torso, full chest
- Good shoulder-waist ratio
- Athletic
Endomorph
Individuals with this body type tend to be chubbier and store body fat. They tend to have:
Endomorph Body Type
- Wide hips and narrow shoulders, creating a “pear” shape
- Shorter limbs
- Slim ankles and wrists
- Wide bone structure
- Blocky
- Thick rib cage
- Slower metabolism
- Weight gain is easy, fat loss is difficult
- Soft and round physique
Being able to understand what body type you are will allow you to train and diet more effectively for your fitness goals. A universal recommendation no matter what your body type is, is sleep. The importance of getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night is vastly underrated. While you are sleeping, your body is producing the hormones you need to aid in fat loss and recovery from physical activities. If you do not get enough sleep, these hormones are affected along with testosterone levels and growth hormones.
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