Somatotypes

Know your body type and the right way to look after it

With its origins in 1930s psychology linking your body for life to personality traits, somatotype classification is now widely used to plan workout routines and healthy diets for best individual success.

The 3 body types are

The ectomorph: tending to slim and even underweight. The ectomorph somatotype puts on neither fat nor muscle, needing to eat small meals often. Low carbohydrate diets are not advisable for the ectomorph, nor is too much emphasis on aerobic or cardio workout routines.


The endomorph: tending to overweight. The endomorph somatotype puts on fat more readily than muscle.

Low fat and low to medium carbohydrate diets are best, with a moderate to high protein intake. The endomorph somatotype benefits from plenty of cardio workout routines with some resistance training.


The mesomorph: the ideal body for life, being well proportioned. The mesomorph puts on muscle easily, whether it be lean or mass muscle.

Any nutritious and balanced diet will suit the mesomorph, but you may wish to specifically tailor your diet to your chosen workout routine to get the most out of both.

A balance of aerobic exercise and resistance training is ideal for a mesomorph to get or stay in shape.

Not many people tend to be one particular body type only. In his book Atlas of Men, Sheldon categorised all possible body types.

He did this according to a scale ranging from 1 to 7 for each of the somatotypes.

The true endomorph is 7-1-1, the pure mesomorph 1-7-1 and the 100% ectomorph scores 1-1-7.

So, for example, a true endomorph would be assigned a number of 711, a mesomorph 171, and an ectomorph 117.

Your body for life is sort of kind of set by your somatotypes classification, but it is entirely possible to sculpt a few changes to the size and shape of your muscles with any number of balanced and healthy diets and targeted workout routines.


Return to Lose Fat Get Fit from Somatotypes You can lose fat. Get fit with a sensible diet plan for losing weight with practical and simple weight loss tips. Lose weight and never be fat again.

Go to Endomorph Body Type The endomorph body type has the highest body fat of the somatotypes. Now good news. Muscle mass is readily gained with a good weight lifting workout and cardio.

Go to Ectomorph Body Type The ectomorph body type has the lowest body fat and muscle mass of the somatotypes. A high carb diet is beneficial for lean or mass muscle gain.

Go to Mesomorph Body Type The mesomorph body type is the most envied somatotype classification but both overweight male bodies and the female mesomorph fatty exist in abundance.

Go to Dressing for Your Body Type So you can be dressing for your body type you have to know what not to wear. The right choice of clothes can slim down your body, create a positive body image and lift your mood.