Body Types

A body type, or somatotype, is a way of describing physique by how lean and linear, muscular and broad, or rounded and soft a build looks.

The idea comes from the American psychologist William Sheldon, who proposed it in the 1940s. He named the three types after the three layers of the embryo (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm), which gives us ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph. Almost everyone is a mixture, which is why the quiz shows a blend on a triangle instead of a single label.

In fashion, "body type" is often used for silhouette (hourglass, pear, rectangle). That is a separate system based on proportions, covered in our guide to body shapes. This page is about build.

Men use the same three somatotypes. An ectomorphic man is usually narrow through the shoulders and hips with long, lean limbs. A mesomorphic man tends to have the athletic V-shaped look, with broad shoulders and a narrower waist. An endomorphic man is typically stockier, with more weight through the midsection and often a strong lower body. Many men are a blend, most often ecto-mesomorph or meso-endomorph.

Somatotype is about build. If you want your silhouette (inverted triangle, trapezoid, rectangle, triangle or oval) and fit advice for clothes, use the male body shape calculator.

The same three types apply to women, though fat tends to be stored differently on average, so the look of each type can differ. An ectomorphic woman is usually slim with a narrow frame. A mesomorphic woman is often described as athletic, with defined shoulders and muscle. An endomorphic woman typically has a rounder, softer build and is often strong. As with men, most women are a blend.

If you searched for female body types and meant hourglass, pear, apple or rectangle, that is a question about silhouette. Those shapes are explained in the body shapes guide, and you can find yours from your measurements with the female body shape calculator.

Everyday words describe how you look at a given time, while somatotype describes the build underneath. As a rough guide:

• A lean or slender body type usually points to ectomorph, or an ecto-mesomorph blend.
• A skinny build with little muscle is usually an ectomorph, especially with a narrow frame and fast weight loss.
• An athletic or muscular body type usually points to mesomorph.
• A stocky body type usually points to endomorph or a meso-endomorph blend.

Body fat, training and age all change how a build looks, so two people of the same somatotype can look quite different.

Partly. Sheldon believed physique predicted temperament and personality. That claim relied on photographs and has been widely discredited. What survives is the idea of describing physique with three components, which sports science still uses through the Heath-Carter method, and research on how to measure somatotype continues.

The popular claims are weaker. Ideas such as a "fast" or "slow" metabolism, or a set way to train and eat for each type, are generalisations with limited evidence. Genes matter, but so do age, hormones, sleep, activity and food. Treat your body type as a starting point for curiosity, not as a limit or a verdict, and remember that it says nothing about your health, ability or worth.

• Bone structure is fixed. Your frame is largely set after puberty, so a narrow frame stays narrow.
• Body composition can change. Building muscle, changing weight and getting older all shift how your build looks and feels.
• Your type is a tendency, not a ceiling. Someone with endomorph tendencies can become strong and athletic, and someone with ectomorph tendencies can add muscle. It usually takes more time and consistency for some than for others.

These are ideas people commonly use, not prescriptions. What works best is what you can keep doing.

• Ectomorph: strength training with gradual increases in load, regular meals with enough protein and carbohydrate, moderate endurance work, and good sleep for recovery.
• Mesomorph: varied training that mixes strength and cardio, balanced meals with enough protein, and changing one thing at a time when progress slows.
• Endomorph: a mix of strength training and activity you enjoy, meals built around protein, vegetables and fibre, and small habit changes that last rather than drastic ones.

General information only, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian before making big changes, especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant, or have ever had a difficult relationship with food.