What Your Body Shape Says About Your Health
- Dietitian.Lauren Hmede
- Apr 29, 2019
- 3 min read
One Piece of the Puzzle
You body shape can tell many things about your health but this is only one factor as all people from all shapes and sizes can be healthy or can have risks for many chornic diseases. So check with your doctor your blood cholesterol ,blood pressure and other risks factors.
Ectomorph
One system separates body shapes into “somatotypes.” The ectomorph type has a narrower frame, thinner bones, and smaller joints, and may be flatter in the chest and butt. Think of the typical build of a distance runner, fashion model, or ballerina. Though you may look skinny and find it hard to put on weight, you can have more body fat than you think, especially as you age. That’s because your body often processes food quickly, which makes it harder to build muscle.
Endomorph
This somatotype usually has more body fat and muscle, smaller shoulders, shorter limbs, and larger bone structure. Think of football linemen, shot put throwers, or curvier women. You may gain weight easily, especially in your lower belly and hips, and find it harder to lose. This may be in part because your body is more likely to store “high carb” foods as fat instead of burning them.
Mesomorph
This somatotype has an athletic, strong build with wide shoulders, a narrow waist, and low body fat. Think of the typical build of sprinters or soccer players. Because you’re naturally strong and lose and gain weight easily, your body type is well-suited to muscle-building activities like bodybuilding.
Pear Shape
It combines a slimmer “ectomorph” upper body with an “endomorph” lower body. People with this shape have extra fat in the hip and thigh area. It’s more common among women and it is linked less to chronic diseases. That is why they live longer!!
Apple Shape
It is called also the beer belly when fat is located mainly in the stomach and it is common more in men than women. It indicated fat accumulation around internal organs and it is linked to many chornic diseases like heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Doctors dont rely on the shape of body instead they use BMI which is the body mass index and it is calculated simply by your weight over your height sqaure. A score of 25 or more suggests you’re overweight; 30 or more points to obesity. This indicator is not good indicator for body fa.
Waist Size
Belly fat increases the risk of high blood presusre, diabetes and heart disease. To check yours, line up a measuring tape with your belly button and wind it once around. (Don’t suck in your stomach when you measure.) In women, 35 inches or more is a sign of too much belly fat. In men, it’s 40 inches. These numbers may vary slightly if you have a very large body size.
Waist-to-Hip Ratio
It is another way to assess fat around the midsection. Measure your waist just above your belly button and divide that by the measure of your hips at their widest point. Anything greater than 0.85 for women or 0.9 for men puts you in the danger zone for health problems.
Bigger Thighs, Better Health?
Scientists studied about 3,000 adults for more than 12 years and found those whose thighs measured less than 24 1/2 inches were more likely to have heart disease and other health problems. And the problem got worse as thighs got thinner. However, the study didn’t track whether the people’s thighs were larger because of fat, muscle, or both, so it’s hard to tell why they were better off.
Arm Yourself
According to a study done, researchers found that along with slimmer waists, bigger arms seemed to predict longer life and better health. Those who had larger mid-arm muscle measurements lived longer. It may simply be that muscular arms reflect a healthier lifestyle, but the muscle itself may also help.
Exercise to Stay in Shape
Sometimes your body shape is jutborn with you but this does not mean you cannot do better. Exercise can help you get rid of deeper fat and build muscle, even if your weight stays the same. Regular workouts can help in maintaining weight loss. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week. Building muscle with weights or yoga can also help.
Eat for a Healthy Body Shape
You need to switch your diet and eat more fruits, veegtables, whole grains, low fat dairies and lean protein sources. Reduce the amount of soft drinks, sugary food and saturated-fat as they have been linked to belly fat and chronic diseases.
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