You’re probably familiar with the various body types that are used to describe females. Terms like the hourglass, inverted triangle, rectangle, and more terms help females realize where they’re prone to weight gain, so they can use that information when developing a workout plan.

When it comes to the male body type, there are different categories as well. They are the endomorph, the ectomorph, and the mesomorph. So, as a male, how can you tell which category you fit into? My Fit Foods' handy guide will help.

A Guide to Body Types for Beginners

A number of different things determine your body type. From genetics to lifestyle and more, your body type is part genetics, part exercise and diet. Why do body types matter? They’re designed to give you an overview of your current body, as well as assist you in figuring out exactly which forms of diet and exercise will help you achieve your fitness goals.

Before you learn more about the three male body types, it’s important to have a solid understanding of the various factors involved in making your body type what it is.

Genetics

Your genes play a large role in many things, including your overall body type. Depending on how your genetics played out, you wound up with brown eyes over blue or brown hair instead of blond. The same is true of your body type.

You may be an endomorph, an ectomorph, or a combination of the two. Although this means that you don’t really have any control over a portion of your body type definition (you can’t actually change your genes), thankfully, your lifestyle and habits can help you change it slightly.

Age

Unfortunately, another thing that you really have no control over is your age. What does age have to do with body type? As males get older, their testosterone levels naturally go down.

When this happens, their body type may change, as they start to gain weight in certain areas. Although you can’t really change the overall age factor of your body type, you can always take care of the hormonal part, although that’s another article altogether.

Exercise Habits

Thankfully, there are some factors that play into the male body type that you can control, like your exercise habits. If you spend a lot of time sitting down (the problematic sedentary lifestyle), you might end up with a mesomorphic body type, where you’re a bit larger than the others.

On the other hand, people who exercise a lot, such as marathoners, tend to have a different body type, due to their habits of running long distances. While you can’t entirely change your body type 100%, you can alter it slightly into a different one, thanks to your habits.

Dietary Habits

Speaking of habits, the foods that you eat can play a role in your overall body type. Those who follow a veryhealthy diet, or prefer a specialized diet like a vegan or vegetarian one, tend to have a different body type than males who eat meat, potatoes, and other foods.

This doesn’t mean that one diet is right and the other is wrong. It simply means that your diet can alter your body type slightly, allowing you to change it a little from one to another. When combined with your exercise and lifestyle habits, it makes plenty of sense that your diet plays a role here as well.

Your Body Type

While there are three main somatotypes (body types), it’s common to fit entirely into one of them. You might see your body type change slightly as you begin a new exercise and diet regimen, or find that you have some characteristics of one, but not another. This is entirely normal. You can be an endomorph in some areas and an ectomorph in others. Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself fitting into one or more of these body types.

With that said, here’s a breakdown of these aforementioned body types.

Endomorph Body Type

One of the more common body types, anendomorph tends to be stocky and broad-shouldered. Males who fit into this group tend to be a bit shorter than average and have a build that, if they work out regularly, tends to be a bit intimidating due to their thick arms and legs. Of course, endomorphs may not be stocky and broad all-over, as this body type can be mixed with another, making for an interesting combination of features.

As far as metabolism is concerned, an endomorph has a slow metabolism and is able to gain muscle mass without many issues. However, since an endomorph has a tendency to gain fat just as well as they do muscle, it’s crucial to follow a workout plan that involves cardio as well as weight lifting. Following a healthy diet and not succumbing to a sedentary lifestyle will help as well.

Additional characteristics of the endomorph include:

• Strong upper arms and legs
• Can easily lose or gain weight and body fat
• Muscles tend to be soft and undefined

Ectomorph Body Type

Ectomorphs are thin and have a more delicate bone structure than the other male body types. You can expect to see a lanky frame when you look in the mirror, and find that your shoulders are anything but broad (unless you’re a combination of another body type, that is.) Overall, ectomorphs also tend to be tall, but aren’t always.

An ectomorph has a hard time gaining weight, due to their very fast metabolism. This keeps them on the skinny side and makes it tough to gain muscle mass. In order to meet those weight and muscle-building goals in the gym, someone with an ectomorphic body will need to plan their strength training workouts to focus on the large muscle groups, as well as follow a diet that’s high in protein and carbohydrates.

Other characteristics of the ectomorph include:

• Small or narrow shoulders and chest
• Low body mass index (BMI) and body weight on average
• A thin frame complete with a low lean muscle mass
• Longer arms and legs than other body types
• Sometimes called the “hardgainer” body type; ectomorphs struggle to build muscle

Mesomorph Body Type

Finally, there’s themesomorph. If you thought the thick arms and legs of the endomorph were intimidating, you haven’t yet heard about this body type. A mesomorph is designed to be a bodybuilder. Those with this body type tend to be big-boned and have a very sturdy, muscular body with broad shoulders. Their muscles are very well-defined, and they gain them very easily, although a good weight-lifting regimen helps.

Thanks to their healthy and normal metabolism, someone with a mesomorphic body type can lose excess weight fairly easily, as well as gain it, if they aren’t following their diet and workout routine. Their average height, and their ability to see plenty ofgains in the gym without having to eat a special protein-heavy diet like the ectomorph, mean that a mesomorph is in control of their own body, more so than the others.

In addition, a mesomorph has these characteristics:

• A rectangular-shaped body
• Muscles that are well-defined
• Balanced body composition
• Quick muscle gain and fat loss when using a solid training program
• Thrive eating a balanced diet with plenty of high-quality carbs, fat, and protein
• An overall athletic build

What Does Your Body Type Truly Mean?

Although you may be looking over these body types and then gazing in the mirror, unhappy to find out that you’re an ectomorph or an endomorph, it’s important to keep several things in mind.

• You Can Change: While you don’t have complete control over your body type (thanks to genetics), you can change your physique. Now that you know what your type is, you have the ability to pick a diet and exercise routine that will have a direct impact on how you look.
• You Might Fit More Than One Category: It’s entirely possible to be a mesomorph on the bottom, with well-defined muscular legs, and an ectomorph on the top, with shoulders that are less than broad. This is normal. It means that you have the chance to make your body look more balanced, thanks to an exercise routine designed to build up your shoulder muscles.
• Things Change Over Time: You might have been an ectomorph when you were younger, but find yourself to be solidly an endomorph now. As you age, your body type can change, and like fitting into more than one category, as explained above, this is entirely normal. If you don’t like your body type, simply wait and see what changes as you get older.

Final Thoughts on Men’s Body Types

There are three main body types that men fit into. They are endomorph, ectomorph, and mesomorph. It’s entirely possible to be more than one of these body types as well. If you have any questions about this, pleasereach out to us.

Sources:

Men’s Body Types: Ectomorph, Mesomorph, Endomorph | Alpham

The Secrets of the Male Body | Mint

What Are Some Different Types of Body Shapes? | Medical News Today