Endomorph
Tendency towards small bones, large chest or breasts, pear shape, large head, short neck. Will gain weight easily.

Mesomorph
Tendency towards heavy bones, triangular shape, broad chest and shoulders. Little excess body fat.

Ectomorph
Tendency towards long bones, long neck and limbs, short trunk, narrow chest and buttocks. Little excess body fat.

People falling into these body types will often lean towards certain types of exercise. Endomorphs lean towards low impact cardio-vascular activities like walking, swimming and cycling. Mesomorphs often seem to like weight training, martial arts and racquet sports. Ectomorphs lean towards aerobic, dance, ballet, cycling, running and weight training.

Your level of body fat to muscle is also likely to be at least partially determined by body type. Height and weight charts do not usually take body type into consideration, which is why they are fairly crude measurement. The only way to measure body fat is by using callipers (if you can pinch more than 2.5cm/1inch from the back of your arm you need to lose some body fat) or better still use a body fat monitor (we have the best on the market in our Diet Aids Shop)

You cannot change your body type, but you can make the best of it. Endomorphs may have a tendency to put on weight, but by following a calorie controlled diet and exercise regime, they can create a toned and curvaceous body (think Jennifer Lopez!!). If you are an endomorph, try doing exercise you might not normally do, like weight training and running. These will maximise your metabolism to keep fat levels low. Endomorphs often have low levels of muscles through inactivity, as they often avoid exercise. But by increasing your muscle levels, you can reduce your fat levels to that of a mesomorph, follow the ectomorph example of running long distances and obtain a lean body, with little fat (hopefully!).