Mesomorph body type
The mesomorph body type tends to be of medium frame, and it’s characterised by an ease to build muscle and a relatively low body fat percentage. It’s usually a lean body type that is neither overweight or underweight, has a rectangular build (with no discernible curves) and with good posture.
It’s the kind of male and female body types you would see in athletes as their ability to build muscle and store fat evenly around the body can facilitate their successful participation in both solo and group sports.
Although this body type is conducive to an active lifestyle and commonly has a healthy muscle to fat ratio, it usually presents a larger heart compared to other body types, which can contribute to an increased risk of stroke and heart disease.
Endomorph body type
The endomorph body type is characterised by little muscle definition and a higher body fat percentage compared to other body types. Some of the features of the endomorph body type include: wide hips, thick joints, a shorter and stockier build, or an hourglass body shape.
The fat distribution in this body type varies from person to person, but usually females will feature a curvy figure that accumulates fat around the thighs and hips. On the other hand, males will tend to accumulate fat around the abdomen, and usually present a higher amount of visceral fat.
This fat distribution, particularly in male body types, can be dangerous in the long term as it makes them more susceptible to obesity and comorbidities, like diabetes, heart disease, and even some types of cancer.
Ectomorph body type
Ectomorph is the classic slim body type with low muscle and fat levels. Some common features of this body type include small joints, a flat pectoral/chest area, thin shoulders and a slim waist.
People with an ectomorph body time may have difficulty putting on weight, so on the off chance that they do put it on, it’s easy for them to lose it. But usually these people will remain slim their whole lives unless they become sedentary and follow a calorie-dense diet on a regular basis.
Ectomorph bodies can become susceptible to osteoporosis as they age, and may be at risk of breaking or damaging their bones and joints, unless they build muscle to support their skeleton.