What’s my body type?

In the 1940s, University of Houston professor William Sheldon developed the concept that all humans fall into one of three body types, or body types.

This is bold. This is revolutionary. This is complete nonsense.

The whole concept is Common to three sizes Classification systems have never been supported by science. In fact, it has been abandoned across the board almost since its launch. But that hasn’t slowed the spread of misinformation, which Shelton based largely on personal observations.

In case you’ve forgotten or are luckily unaware of this classic piece of junk science, a brief review may be in order.

What are the 3 different body types?

Like many of us, you most likely learned about these three body types in middle school health class. And, on the surface, they may appear quite reasonable.

ectomorph

Ectomorphs are described as long and thin, with thin waists and little body fat or muscle mass. Gaining weight can be difficult, but losing weight is relatively easy. Think Zoe Saldana or Bruce Lee.

endomorph

Sheldon said endomorphs have ample reserves of fat and muscle in their bodies, making it easier to gain weight and more difficult to lose weight. Here, think Serena Williams or Chris Pratt (approx. parks and recreation).

mesomorph

Mesomorphs are characterized by being athletic, sturdy, and strong—a day walker in between the other two body types. Let’s go with Mark Wahlberg or Alex Morgan.

Are the body shapes real?

Sheldon’s body type is once again inaccurate and the description of the human body is oversimplified.

“Very few people fit perfectly into one of the classic body types,” says Trevor Thieme, CSCS. “Most people are a hodgepodge of what they are. For example, your upper body may be “mesomorph” and your lower body “ectomorph.” But being able to categorize your body type isn’t important because it won’t necessarily tell you What: How will your body respond to training”.

So why is this? fitness myths Hard to get rid of?

“I think a lot of it has to do with most people wanting a simple solution when it comes to fitness and weight loss,” Tim said. “This is provided by the idea that if you have X body type, then you should focus on Y type of exercise.”

But Tim says this thinking is backwards. “you need to Start with your goalsbecause no matter what your “body shape” is, this will affect your training plan.

Can you change your body shape?

Body size doesn’t predict training response, which means there’s a lot you can do about it change your body composition. It’s actually quite freeing to start with your goal (for example, becoming more muscular) and work backwards to determine your optimal training plan.

This means that if you’re a classic ectomorph, you don’t have to be partial to long-distance running pumping iron. If you’re an endomorph, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t train for a marathon (if that’s on your bucket list).

The key point here is that you will never know what you are capable of unless you try. But it’s important to know what is within your control and what is not.

The role of genetics

To be clear, just because size doesn’t predict performance doesn’t mean the training field is level. No matter your goal or the route you take to get there, you’re likely to meet someone who’s going faster or slower than you because what’s written in your DNA still matters.

“Depending on the goal, there are many factors we can manipulate to our advantage—training frequency, training intensity, which exercises we prioritize, programming installmentnutritional factors – but it’s also important to understand that some people choose the right parents,” says Tony GenticoreCSCS, owner of CORE, his training studio in Brookline, MA.

“Some people grow just by looking at dumbbells. Some people have to do their best to exercise. a lot of To see the fruits of their labor,” he added.

The most important factor in choosing a form of exercise

This is true regardless of your end goal. “But at the end of the day, what ‘works’ is something you really enjoy doing and you do it consistently,” Gentilcore says.

Therefore, Tim recommends customizing your training based on your goals, workout preferences, time constraints, and strengths and weaknesses. “Your training program needs to be customized to you as an individual, not based on a body type category and created without even exercising in mind.”

The history of body shape

Shelton doesn’t even categorize body types for fitness purposes. He is a psychologist who believes that people can be attached to character feature Suitable for every body type. He was more interested in how our bodies shape our personalities than in their actual functions.

Sheldon speculated that ectomorphs are introverted, artistic, and emotionally strong. Endomorphs are happy, relaxed, and sociable. Mesomorphs are confident, adventurous, and competitive.

If this sounds like bullshit, gibberish, or any other 1940s bullshit term, then it is: Sheldon’s entire motivation for research has been thoroughly debunked.

“In the years after World War II, Sheldon’s toxic eugenic views and his equating of physique with destiny made him increasingly unpopular,” according to a 2015 article in the magazine canadian medical bulletin. “The death knell for his career was sounded by his former female assistant, Barbara Honeyman Heath. She publicly denounced his methods as fraudulent and inaccurate, and subsequently revised them technology and worked on projects around the world to build a successful career.

Why do body image myths persist?

You’d think that with all the backlash from the medical and fitness establishment, Shelton’s idea of ​​the three main body types would be something like a Segway, a Zune, a New Coke, and Cheetos lip balm (Yes, that’s a real product).

But body image myths are surprisingly powerful, as any quick Google search will tell you. There are so many examples from London, this is just one of them. daily mail The newspaper claimed, “Scientists say we all fit into three categories (knowing your body type is key to choosing the right exercises).”

The three-body theory gained so much attention so quickly that it soon became more or less conventional wisdom and has survived to this day. Like the zodiac signs, body type categories work because almost everyone can find their own characteristics in almost every “personalized” name.

Sorry if we ruined your astrology too.