You Have One Of Three Body Types, And Here’s How It Could Impact Your Health
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Unsplash/Brooke Cagle
The human body is wildly diverse, which is often what makes it so beautiful. But we know that on our worst days, we don’t always see it that way. We can get overly critical of how our thighs touch or how our abs lack tone or how our butt doesn’t quite fill out our favorite pair of jeans. But before you start listing your own complaints about what your mama gave ya, there’s something you need to know.
Whether you like it or not, your genes, to some extent, determine certain physical characteristics of your body. There are three main body types out there, and they hone in on how your body naturally holds (or resists) both muscle and fat.
Endomorph
The endomorph body type is usually softer and curvier since it has the propensity to store more fat. This type is often accompanied by a slower metabolism. Many women feel slighted by their genes when they realize they’re an endomorph because it means they face more of an uphill battle when it comes to getting and staying trim. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible! With proper attention to both diet and exercise, endomorphs can be the picture of health.
Ectomorph
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the ectomorph body type is typically long and skinny. Thanks to the super-fast metabolism that comes with this body type, ectomorphs are incredibly resistant to weight gain. With that said, a lot of people wrongly assume that this skinny stature is the same thing as lean. Ectomorphs run the highest risk of being “skinny fat,” or being metabolically obese even though their weight is healthy. They also have to work extra hard to build muscle that’s willing to stick around.
Mesomorph
Mesomorphs are typically the more proportional of the three body types, thanks to their ability to build muscle mass easily and maintain a healthily balanced metabolism. This body type is often described as “strong” or “athletic” because of its bounty of responsive muscle cells, but not all strong and athletic people are mesomorphs. Some just worked really hard against their body chemistry to look like it. Mesomorphs typically have a medium-sized frame and a fair amount of lean mass.
Now, you probably won’t fit perfectly into one of these categories. You’re more likely to dominantly display one body type with a couple hints of another. But that’s okay. Taking a moment to identify your body’s natural state is the first step to understanding how to move it and fuel it in a healthy way.
Some people choose the path of least resistance and embrace diet and exercise habits that maintain their natural figure. Some work their asses off to transform their bodies into whatever they want them to be. To each her own. So long as you’re taking care of yourself and can look in the mirror at the end of the day and say, “I love my body for what it provides for me,” we think we’ll all be in fantastic shape.
RELATED: HERE’S THE BEST NUTRITION ADVICE FOR YOUR BODY TYPE
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