Body Types

by Molly Magunga, MS ATC, CPT, CES

Hello everyone! This week’s “Fitness Tip of the Week” is about different body types. You don’t need to look at the person that comes into the gym every day or the people walking down the street, to realize that every person’s body is different. In fact, a lot of us get very caught up in the comparison of different people’s bodies. It’s not a bad thing to compare body types; AS LONG AS, it’s not done in a negative manner. It is far too easy to get stuck in a negative thought cycle by thinking: “Why aren’t my hips like hers?” “Why is she able to lose weight so much quicker than Me?” “I wish my body was more like his!” 

The thing to remember is that your body IS different than other people and that’s not a bad thing! Instead of trying to morph your body into a different body type, the best tip I can give you is for you to learn about your body so you can use it at its full potential! Your body type explains how you respond to exercise, how easily you put on muscle, and if you tend to store fat more easily. There is no bad body type! Knowing your body type is just a tool to help you accomplish your fitness goals. You may even have a good idea of your body type, but the more you know the better for designing a program to reach your fitness goals. 

Body Type Breakdown

There are three main body type categories, which I will breakdown below. Before getting into it, I wanted to make one disclaimer: people are all unique, so the reality of these categories is that most people are a combination of the three. My tip to you would be to read through the categories and take notes about what sounds like you. You can then use those notes to help you succeed with your fitness goals.

Ectomorph:

An ectomorph is a body type that is long and lean. Ectomorphs tend to have long limbs with shoulders that are thin and a smaller width. They also tend to have a hard time putting on muscle. If increasing muscle mass is a goal of an ectomorph, a standard weight training program that focuses on lifting heavy weights is critical to achieve that. Due to the naturally lean frame, increasing calorie intake will be crucial so an ectomorph is able to gain muscle and maintain it. 

Endomorph:

The opposite of an ectomorph would be the endomorph. A person with an endomorph body type has a larger frame. They tend to put on muscle and fat very easily. This body type generally stores fat pretty easily. A common fitness goal for people with an endomorph body type is weight loss or decreasing body fat percentage. To achieve this goal, the exercise program should include a combination of cardio and weight training. You want to burn a lot of calories with your workouts. Diet is very important for weight loss as well, which is why being mindful of what is ingested is important. 

Mesomorph:

Mesomorph is the ”in-between” body type. People with this build are able to put on muscle, but also have a faster metabolism. It’s a very athletic build. They can gain or lose weight pretty easily and are naturally very strong. They are able to burn fat without losing muscle. Because this body type respond quickly to training, diet and exercise plans will vary depending on individual fitness goals. If you are a mesomorph and consume a high calorie diet with minimal activity, you’re likely to gain weight easily. Luckily, if you adjust, your body will also quickly adjust. 

If you have any questions on this topic, please feel free to email me at mmagunga@healthworksfitness.com or comment below!