Do you know your body type? In this post we talk about body types in men: endomorph, ectomorph and mesomorph.
You are probably familiar with the different categories used to describe women’s morphology. Terms such as “hourglass”, “inverted triangle”, “rectangle” and others help women understand their propensity to gain weight, allowing them to use this information to develop a training plan.
When it comes to the male body, there are also different classifications, known as endomorphy, ectomorphy and mesomorphy. So, as a man, how can you determine which of these categories you fit into?
Body type in men
From genetics to lifestyle and beyond, your body type is the result of a combination of genetic factors, exercise and diet. Why are these morphology types important? They serve to provide an overview of your current body condition and help you identify the most appropriate diet and exercise strategies to achieve your fitness goals.
Before exploring the three types of male body morphology in detail, it is essential that you fully understand the various elements that go into shaping your body morphology.
Genetic factors
Your genes play a crucial role in numerous aspects, including your overall body morphology. Depending on the genetics you inherited, you may be an endomorph, an ectomorph, or a combination of both. Although you can’t change your genes, which means you can’t completely alter your morphology type, fortunately, your lifestyle and habits can contribute to modifying it slightly.
Age
Unfortunately, another factor over which you have no control is age. How does age relate to body morphology? As men age, their testosterone levels naturally decrease, which can lead to changes in their body morphology as they gain weight in certain areas. While you can’t change your age in general terms, you can always address the hormonal aspects, although this deserves a separate article.
Exercise Habits
Fortunately, there are some factors that influence male body morphology that you can control, such as your exercise habits. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, with long hours of inactivity, you may develop a mesomorphic morphology, which is characterised by a larger size compared to others. On the other hand, people who exercise intensively, such as marathon runners, tend to exhibit a different type of morphology due to their long-distance habits. While you can’t completely change your body type, you can make minor changes through your habits.
Type of nutrition
Speaking of habits, diet plays a role in your overall body shape. Those who follow a very healthy diet or follow a particular dietary approach, such as veganism or vegetarianism, tend to have a different morphology compared to men who eat meat, potatoes and other foods. This does not mean that one diet is right and the other wrong, it simply indicates that your diet may slightly influence your body morphology, allowing you to make adjustments from one type to another. When combined with your exercise and lifestyle habits, it makes sense that your diet also plays an important role in this process.
Your Morphology Type
Although there are three main somatotypes, it’s common to not completely fit into any of them. You may notice slight changes in your morphology type when you start a new exercise and diet programme, or you may find that you exhibit some characteristics of one or the other somatotype. This is completely normal. You may be endomorph in some areas and ectomorph in others. Don’t worry if you find yourself fitting into one or more of these morphology types. That said, here is a detailed description of the above body morphology types.
Endomorph body type and its relevance to health
One of the most common body morphology types is the endomorph, which is characterised by a stocky build and broad shoulders. Men who identify with this group tend to be slightly shorter than average and, if they exercise regularly, can develop solid muscles, which can be imposing.However, it is important to note that endomorphs can have a mixture of characteristics, as this type of morphology can be combined with others.
In terms of metabolism, endomorphs have a slower metabolism, which allows them to gain muscle mass relatively easily.However, since they also tend to accumulate fat, it is essential to follow an exercise programme that includes both cardio and weight training. In addition, maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle is essential.
Other typical characteristics of endomorphic morphology include:
- Muscle development in arms and legs.
- Ability to gain or lose weight and body fat easily.
- Musculature that is usually less defined and softer.
Ectomorph Body Morphology and its Impact on Health
Ectomorphs, on the other hand, are characterised by slenderness and a lighter bone structure compared to other male body morphology types. They generally have a slim build and often narrow shoulders (unless they are a combination with another type of morphology). Ectomorphs tend to be tall in most cases.Ectomorphs face challenges gaining weight due to their extremely fast metabolism, which makes it difficult to build muscle mass.To achieve their weight and muscle goals in the gym, they should plan their exercise routines to focus on the largest muscle groups and follow a diet rich in protein and carbohydrates.
Other characteristics of ectomorph morphology include:
- Small or narrow shoulders and chest.
- Generally low body mass index (BMI) and body weight.
- Lean build and lean musculature.
Mesomorph body type and its relation to health
Finally, there is the mesomorph, characterised by a stocky, muscular build with broad shoulders. People with this type of morphology seem to be predisposed to build muscle, and often have an athletic build. Their muscles are well defined and they have the ability to gain muscle relatively easily, although following a solid weight lifting plan is beneficial.
Thanks to their healthy and balanced metabolism, mesomorphs can lose or gain weight with ease, provided they maintain a proper diet and exercise routine.Their average height and the ability to achieve good results in the gym without requiring a special protein-rich diet, as in the case of ectomorphs, give them greater control over their body.
In addition, the mesomorph is characterised by:
- A rectangular body build.
- Well-defined muscles.
- Balanced body composition.
- Ability to build muscle and lose fat effectively through a solid training programme.
- Benefits from maintaining a balanced diet with sufficient carbohydrates, fats and high quality protein.
- An overall athletic build.
Interpreting Body Morphology
Although you may look at these morphology types and feel dissatisfied with identifying yourself as an ectomorph or an endomorph, it is important to keep the following in mind:
- You can change: Although genetics influences your morphology type, you have the power to modify your physical appearance through conscious choices in your diet and exercise routine.
- You can fit into more than one category: It is completely normal to have characteristics of more than one body type. This gives you the opportunity to balance your body through an exercise programme designed to build specific muscles.
- Things change over time: Your body type may evolve as you age. As you age, your body may change, and fitting into more than one category is completely normal. If you are unhappy with your current body type, watch how it changes over time as you age.
Final Conclusions on Male Body Types and Health
In summary, there are three main types of male body morphology: endomorph, ectomorph and mesomorph. It is also possible to fit into more than one category. If you have concerns or questions about your morphology type and its influence on your health, please do not hesitate to contact us.
