Body Types: The Ectomorph, Endomorph
and Mesomorph

While a lot of women envy the "tall and skinny" model physique, men who are ectomorphs may find it difficult to gain size and strength.

The ectomorph body type is one that is classified as being relatively thin. Other characteristics that define an ectomorph include a fragile shape, lean physique, small shouldered, flat chested and a delicate body.

An ectomorph generally struggles to gain muscle and no matter how much they eat, never seem to gain any weight, despite the possibility of having a high and unhealthy body fat percentage.

Ectomorphs have small and delicate bones and may have a slight muscle definition. A typical ectomorph is long and lean and is usually straight up and straight down, also known as a ruler shape. This body shape is attractive on a girl, however, ectomorphic men may seem fragile and struggle to gain size and strength.

Although they battle to gain muscle mass, hard work and strict eating regimes can help this body type gain muscle and tone.

Typical traits of an ectomorph:

• Small and delicate bone structure
• Small shoulders
• Flat chested
• Fast metabolism
• Thin
• "Hard gainer"
• Difficulty gaining weight

Do you gain weight just by looking at food? You could be an endomorph.

An endomorph is categorised by a body shape that is soft and round. Endomorphs usually have shorter limbs as well as small hands and feet. In general, the endomorph has larger upper arms and thighs in comparison to the lower parts of their arms and legs.

It is believed that endomorphs have a higher number of fat cells and due to this, they could carry more fat than the average person. Their bones are large and thick and their waist circumference is generally rather large.

Apart from the physical characteristics, endomorphs may also have a naturally low metabolic rate. While they do gain fat rather easily, endomorphs also have the capacity to build muscle with little effort.

In order to keep in shape and avoid gaining weight, endomorphs need to be extremely strict with their diet and exercise regime. A healthy diet, comprising of low carbohydrate and low fat meals, together with regular exercise, at least five times a week can help endomorphs stay in shape.

A mesomorph has the ability to gain muscle quickly and can lose fat weight when a healthy, low fat, high protein diet is followed.

The mesomorph body type is the one that can be envied by most. The reason for this is that mesomorphs have the ability to build masterpiece physiques. When optimally conditioned, mesomorphs gain lean muscle mass, quickly and don't lose it quickly. However, they also have the tendency to gain fat and may sometimes have trouble losing the fat.

Athletes are generally mesomorphs and this could be due to their ability to build strong muscles and bones. Mesomorphs generally have good posture and a thick skin. The female mesomorphs have a typically hourglass shape, while male mesomorphs generally have a rectangular shape.

Their bones are strong and thick, which help them to carry their large frame. Although most mesomorphs can eat whatever they want and not gain fat, a good, clean diet, rich in protein, can help them to maintain their shape.

These types of body's are also ideal for bodybuilding as they posses both the strength and physical ability to gain muscle mass.

Typical traits of a mesomorph body type include:

• Strong
• Athletic
• Rectangular body shape
• Gains muscle easily
• Gains fat more than ectomorphs
• Hard body
• Well defined

Copyright 2007: Remedium. This article may not be copied, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Remedium.