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What's My Body Type?

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Looking to improve your health? Maybe you want to lose weight or gain muscle. No matter what your goal is, we know something you don’t…the secret to your success is your body type.

There’s no denying that everyone’s body is unique and special, but William Herbert Sheldon theorized that each body could fit into 3 categories or somatotypes: endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph. Understanding where you fit can help you learn how your body gains and loses weight. So, if you’re ready to craft the best health plan for you, click "Start" to discover your body type.

Five women of different sizes and ethnicities standing together wearing jeans and light pink tops.

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Questions Overview

1. Which of these statements describes your body best?
  1. I can easily gain weight but have trouble losing it.
  2. I can easily gain or lose weight without much thought.
  3. I can easily lose weight but have trouble keeping it on.
  4. I’m not sure which of these responses best matches me.
2. How would you describe your body’s shape?
  1. Pear-shaped (my hips are wider than my shoulders).
  2. Hourglass (my waist is smaller than my shoulders and hips).
  3. Rectangular (my hips and shoulders are the same width).
  4. I’m not sure which of these responses best matches me.
3. How easy is it for you to gain muscle?
  1. Fairly easy, but I have to put in a lot of work.
  2. Extremely easy! I’m naturally muscular.
  3. Not easy at all. It’s hard for me to gain any type of weight, especially muscle.
  4. I’m not sure which of these responses best matches me.
4. Which of these descriptions best describes your body?
  1. Soft and round.
  2. Strong and muscular.
  3. Skinny and bony.
  4. I’m not sure which of these responses best matches me.
5. Out of these options, which describes your limbs (arms and legs) best?
  1. Wide and stocky.
  2. Average.
  3. Long and lean.
  4. I’m not sure which of these responses best matches me.
6. Where does your body typically hold the most weight?
  1. My stomach, hips, and thighs.
  2. My lower body and chest.
  3. My stomach.
  4. I’m not sure which of these responses best matches me.
7. How would you describe your metabolism?
  1. Slower than the average person’s. I have to be very careful about what I eat.
  2. About the same as the average person’s. My weight stays steady as long as I eat and exercise well.
  3. Faster than the average person’s. No matter what I eat, I don’t gain weight.
  4. I’m not sure which of these responses best matches me.
8. What type of exercise is the easiest for you to do?
  1. Weight-lifting.
  2. High-intensity interval training (a mix of cardio and bodyweight exercises).
  3. Cardio.
  4. I’m not sure which of these responses best matches me.
9. How would you describe your lifestyle?
  1. Relaxed. I prefer playing video games over going to the gym.
  2. Active. I love moving my body!
  3. Average. I don’t go out of my way to exercise, but I’ll go on a walk every now and then.
  4. I’m not sure which of these responses best matches me.

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With an endomorph body type, experts recommend eating lean proteins (chicken and fish) and healthy fats (nuts, seeds, and olive oil) and focusing on steady-state cardio or high-intensity training (HIIT) exercises, especially if you\u2019re trying to gain muscle, lose weight, and tone your physique. So, pile your plate with chicken, beans, and fish, and aim to get at least 10,000 steps a day.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Eat-200-Grams-of-Protein-a-Day"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Exercise-to-Lose-Belly-Fat"}],"link_data":[{"title":"Eating 200 Grams of Protein per Day: Meal Planning and More","id":13525846,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Eat-200-Grams-of-Protein-a-Day","image":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f5\/Eat-200-Grams-of-Protein-a-Day-Step-10.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Eat-200-Grams-of-Protein-a-Day-Step-10.jpg","alt":"Eating 200 Grams of Protein per Day: Meal Planning and More"},{"title":"How to Exercise to Lose Belly Fat","id":9422770,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Exercise-to-Lose-Belly-Fat","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7d\/Motivate-Yourself-to-Lose-Weight-Step-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Motivate-Yourself-to-Lose-Weight-Step-3.jpg","alt":"How to Exercise to Lose Belly Fat"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"You\u2019re a mesomorph.","meaning":"Based on your responses, your body is more muscular than soft. You might have an average or moderate frame with a smaller waist and slightly wider hips and shoulders. It\u2019s likely relatively easy for you to lose and gain weight\u2014you might feel that you can change up your physique more easily than other people can. Going to the gym is a breeze for you because as long as you\u2019re eating healthy and putting in the work, you can gain muscle just about anywhere.

With a mesomorph body type, experts recommend a high-protein diet and cardio-heavy workout routine to maintain your muscular physique. Aim to get at least 30 minutes of low-intensity cardio each week, and implement high-intensity interval training (HIIT workouts) to strengthen and support muscle growth. Consume high protein sources like eggs and yogurt to fuel your body and achieve your goals.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Begin-Weight-Training"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Eat-Healthy"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Begin Weight Training","id":815136,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Begin-Weight-Training","image":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f7\/Begin-Weight-Training-Step-13-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Begin-Weight-Training-Step-13-Version-3.jpg","alt":"How to Begin Weight Training"},{"title":"How to Eat Healthy","id":10794,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Eat-Healthy","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Eat-Healthy-Step-17.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Eat-Healthy-Step-17.jpg","alt":"How to Eat Healthy"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"You\u2019re an ectomorph.","meaning":"Based on your responses, your body is more lean than muscular or soft. You have longer limbs and few curves. We bet you\u2019re even the tallest amongst your friends (or close to it)! It\u2019s probably really hard for you to lose or gain weight. It might seem like your physique doesn\u2019t change, no matter how hard you try. If this is the case, don\u2019t be discouraged! If your aim is to gain muscle, it isn\u2019t impossible, even with your fast metabolism and lean frame.

With an ectomorph body type, experts recommend increasing your calories and consuming high-calorie snacks throughout the day. Focus on eating more complex carbohydrates (like oats, brown rice, and beans) and high amounts of protein (like beef, chicken, and milk) to put on weight. Then, once you have more meat on your bones, you can start pumping iron and making those gains! Aim for 3 to 5 sets per exercise, and incorporate 5 total exercises into your routine.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Build-Muscle"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Gain-Weight"}],"link_data":[{"title":"The Ultimate Guide to Building Muscle Mass","id":19958,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Build-Muscle","image":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/Build-Muscle-Step-28-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Build-Muscle-Step-28-Version-3.jpg","alt":"The Ultimate Guide to Building Muscle Mass"},{"title":"How to Gain Weight Fast (and Safely): Expert-Backed Advice","id":13498,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Gain-Weight","image":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Gain-Weight-Step-3-Version-8.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Gain-Weight-Step-3-Version-8.jpg","alt":"How to Gain Weight Fast (and Safely): Expert-Backed Advice"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"Your results are inconclusive.","meaning":"It looks like you clicked a neutral response for every question. But, we do need a few more specific responses to give you an accurate result. Try taking the quiz again to see if you can think of an answer to just a few questions.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Determine-Your-Body-Shape"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Determine-Your-Body-Shape"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Determine Your Body Shape","id":291502,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Determine-Your-Body-Shape","image":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Determine-Your-Body-Shape-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Determine-Your-Body-Shape-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Determine Your Body Shape"},{"title":"How to Determine Your Body Shape","id":291502,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Determine-Your-Body-Shape","image":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Determine-Your-Body-Shape-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Determine-Your-Body-Shape-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Determine Your Body Shape"}],"minimum":0}]" class="quiz_results_data"/>\"Which<\/picture>","alt":"Which Diet Is Right for Me Quiz"},{"title":"What's the Best Meal Kit for Me Quiz","id":14049093,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Best-Meal-Kit-Delivery-Service","image":"\"Best<\/picture>","alt":"What's the Best Meal Kit for Me Quiz"},{"title":"Why Am I So Bloated Quiz","id":14196055,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Why-Am-I-So-Bloated","image":"\"Why<\/picture>","alt":"Why Am I So Bloated Quiz"}],"number":1},{"text":"Making healthier lifestyle choices. I want to be the healthiest version of me.","result":"Awesome! Check out these quizzes next:","next_quizzes":[{"title":"Why Can't I Sleep Quiz","id":13284563,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Why-Can't-I-Sleep-Quiz","image":"\"Why<\/picture>","alt":"Why Can't I Sleep Quiz"},{"title":"Am I a Highly Sensitive Person Quiz","id":14047700,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Highly-Sensitive-Person-Test","image":"\"Highly<\/picture>","alt":"Am I a Highly Sensitive Person Quiz"},{"title":"What Kind of Reality Check Do I Need Quiz","id":13747022,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Reality-Check-Quiz","image":"\"Reality<\/picture>","alt":"What Kind of Reality Check Do I Need Quiz"}],"number":2}]}" class="quiz_questionnaire_data"/>

What's a Body Type?

According to American psychologist William Herbert Sheldon, there are 3 dominant body types or somatotypes: endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph. While each person is different, it’s believed that every body can be categorized into these 3 types based on a few deciding factors:

  • The endomorph body type has a higher body fat percentage, is typically shaped like a pear, and easily stores fat.
  • The mesomorph body type has an athletic and muscular build, steady metabolism, and naturally “V” shape.
  • The ectomorph body type has a tall, lanky frame and an extremely fast metabolism.

So, how do these body types help us? Since Sheldon’s discovery, science has proven time and time again that a person’s body type can greatly impact their overall health. Personal trainers, dietitians, and physical therapists can help individuals reach their fitness and health goals by personalizing their diet and exercise plans to match their body type. For instance:

  • An endomorph thrives on a diet full of lean proteins and healthy fats and works best when practicing steady-state cardio and strength exercises.
  • A mesomorph needs a high-protein diet with cardio-heavy workouts and strength interval training.
  • An ectomorph can gain weight and muscle by eating complex carbohydrates and protein while lifting weights.

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