What's Your Body Type?

Your body shape will determine what type of activity is best suited to you, helping to make the most of your natural talents.

There are three basic body shapes – mesomorph, ectomorph and endomorph. In between these three are ‘blends’, of their characteristics.

A good way to determine your body type is to clasp your thumb and middle finger of one hand around the wrist of your other arm. If your finger overlaps your thumb, it is likely you are an ectomorph. Should your fingers touch, chances are you’re a mesomorph. If neither touch you are probably an endomorph.

Mesomorphs are generally muscular, with shoulders broader than their waists. Their abdomens tend to be firm and their hips narrow, with lower extremities that are fairly toned and defined. They can have a tendency to store as much fat as they have muscle, but losing excess body fat isn’t as much of an issue as it is for other types, due to a high ratio of muscle mass (and thus a high metabolism).

When it comes to learning new sports or physical activities requiring athletic skill, these types do very well.

Exercise tip: take part in an exercise programme that offers a variety of intensities and activities. In terms of sports, select those involving power, strength and short energy bursts like gymnastics, sprinting and martial arts.

Ectomorphs are generally quite slim with long extremities and a narrow pelvis. They tend to have less fat and muscle than other body types and, due to a naturally high metabolic rate, struggle to put on weight and/or muscle mass.

However, it doesn’t follow that they shouldn’t exercise, or that they will have a healthy body composition; they should exercise to ensure optimal health.

Exercise tip: although naturally gravitating towards endurance activities, you would benefit from including some resistance training for muscle strength. Sports enjoyed might be volleyball, basketball, ballet, long distance running and diving.

Endomorphs are generally high body fat storers (due to a naturally slower metabolism) – tending to do so around either their waists or bottoms and thighs.

Exercise tip: you would do well on a cardiovascular programme that encourages a lower intensity and longer duration initially (first 2 months), coupled with a resistance-training programme, in order to reduce excess body fat.

Since your body is strong from carrying extra weight, you will do well with strength activities and may enjoy sports that use your size beneficially, such as suspended water sports like water polo (your flotation will be good, due to higher, more buoyant body fat).