American women are obsessed with weight loss. You can clearly see this in any of the commercials that are produced by major companies such as Atkins, Jenny Craig, NutriSystem, et cetera. It is no coincidence that most of the featured success stories are of women! We drive ourselves crazy trying to be like our favorite celebrities, even adopting their diets when we aren’t built the same way!
In this article, the goal is to teach you about the different body types defined in modern nutrition and wellness science. Each one has very distinct features. Once you know them, you will be able to identify which one you are.
Not only does each body have unique physical characteristics, they all have special chemical make up which has a direct on any weight loss goals you might have. As soon as you grasp which body type you are and how it functions any future weight loss goals will be easier to achieve!
What are the three body types?
Weight loss is something all Americans have wanted to do at some point in their lives. Most people only think about which healthy foods they need to eat. There is no doubt that a creating healthy menu plays a big role in anyone’s weight loss journey. The missing piece is the person’s body type: ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph.
In the next sections, you will learn what each one is and how it impacts your weight loss efforts.
Ectomorph body type defined
Many Americans are familiar with famous supermodels Kate Moss and Twiggy. These women are classic examples of the ectomorph body frame. Over the years, they have been scrutinized for their thin frames. We cannot continue demonize those who won the genetic lottery. Changing the dialogue to an understanding of the physical attributes is critical to improving your well being for the long haul.
Here are some easy signs to determine if you are an ectomorph:
- Tall and thin frame,
- Small joints,
- Low body fat percentage,
- Difficulty gaining weight,
- Can’t gain muscle.
Now that you understand some of the predominant physical characteristics of the ectomorph body type, it is important to understand that there are others just like you. Since celebrities rule American culture, let’s look at some famous people who fit the ectomorph body type.
Female celebrities who fit this body type:
- Kate Moss,
- Cameron Diaz,
- Thandie Newton,
- Calista Flockhart,
- Gwyneth Paltrow,
- Adriana Lima
Let’s move on to mesomorphs.
How to know if you're a mesomorph
Most people would have a blank stare on their face if told they were a mesomorph. Here, you’ll learn about what traits are often found with this body type. They include, but aren’t limited to:
- A naturally muscular build,
- Gain weight easily,
- Have medium-sized joints (fingers wrap around your wrist and just touch),
- Can eat almost anything with a minimal effect,
- Respond quickly to any exercise routine,
- Broad/square shoulders.
Female celebrities who have this body type include:
- Tina Turner,
- Sara Jessica Parker,
- Madonna,
- Britney Spears,
- Angel Bassett,
- Halle Berry
Let’s move on to the last body type. endomorphs.
Clues to reveal you're an endomorph
Endomorphs are the most maligned body type in the health and wellness industry. They are often criticized as overweight. In reality, their bodies are solidly built. Here are common traits in an endomorph:
- Large joints/bones,
- Slow metabolism,
- Gain weight easily,
- Short limbs,
- Hard to lose weight,
- Falls asleep easily.
Female celebrities that have this body type include:
- Jennifer Lopez,
- Ashley Graham,
- Kim Kardashian,
- Sara Ramirez,
- Christina Hendricks,
- Adele
Now that you are clear on how the body types can be recognized, let’s translate that into something even more useful: how to make weight loss easier!
How is weight loss different for each body type?
Now that you understand the different body types, it’s important to understand how they work in any dieting effort.
Any talk about weight loss or dieting must start with metabolism, or the way the body uses food we eat. Every person has a metabolism that is unique to them.
What most people don’t know is that the shape of their body impacts their metabolism. This happens because specific hormones regulate each body type. Weight loss is then controlled by which hormone is dominant.
Let’s look at each one in detail.
Weight loss 101 for ectomorphs
Ectomorphs, if you remember are thin by nature. This is because the thyroid is the dominant gland in their unique metabolic pattern. A thyroid produces several hormones important to a healthy body. For weight loss efforts, however, the most important is called thyroxine.
Let’s examine how thyroxine impacts weight loss.
Thyroxine and weight loss
Thyroxine works with the proteins in our blood to increase basal metabolic rate. Basically, the more thyroxine your body has, the hotter your metabolism burns. Signs of high thyroxine levels include:
- Increased body temperature,
- Faster heart beat and pulse,
- Food gets burned off faster,
- Nervous system activation for quicker reflexes.
In essence, the more the body has to do, the higher the metabolism becomes. Combine these activities with the already high levels of thyroxine in an ectomorphic body and weight loss is inevitable.
Weight loss advice for mesomorphs
Mesomorphs, remember, have a naturally muscular build because the dominant hormones in their body is testosterone and human growth hormone. Let’s look at each one more closely.
Testosterone
Testosterone is often thought of as a hormone that has the biggest affect on men. Women are also impacted by testosterone’s presence too. The truth is that we all need testosterone in our bodies because it helps maintain muscle and bone health.
Women, moreover, can use testosterone as markers for what may be going wrong. Excess levels of this can lead to issues like weight gain, infertility and acne.
Human growth hormone
Human growth hormone, or HGH, is another normal part of a healthy body. Again, men and women have different reactions. Let’s examine how it effects women.
Produced in the pituitary gland, this hormone helps with cell regeneration, cell growth and maintenance of healthy tissue. Signs of low HGH levels include:
- Thinning skin,
- Losing muscle mass,
- Weakening of the bones, and
- Susceptibility to mood swings.
With adequate levels of this hormone combination, mesomorphs easily use macronutrients like protein to build the muscular body they’re known for.
Weight loss tips for endomorphs
Last, but certainly not least, are the endomorphs. This body type is the strongest of all and they have unique hormonal needs to be at their best. The dominant hormones for endomorphs are estrogen, cortisol and insulin. Let’s see what effects these have on a woman’s body.
Estrogen’s effect on weight loss
Estrogen is one of the most dominant hormones in a woman’s body. It is what helps you mature once you’ve entered puberty, creating fuller hips and breasts. Endomorphs retain a higher level of it throughout their lives, which gives them their hourglass figures.
Most women don’t realize, unfortunately, that the estrogen in their bodies is meant to be eliminated each day. If a woman does not meet the recommended daily amount of fiber each day to remove the used estrogen, it will stay in the body and create excess weight.
Cortisol makes weight loss harder
Having extra pounds is stressful, no one can deny that. A big factor in this puzzle is cortisol, a hormone released during times of hardship. In the past, cortisol helped us become aware of things we needed to do right away to insure our survival. Now, it exists because we often spread ourselves too thin.
Here are some quick ways to ease the amount of stress in your life:
- Spend 5 minutes to truly wake up in the morning instead of checking emails or Facebook,
- Think about everything you have going one and drop one activity that is not necessary.
Insulin and weight loss failures
Most people are keenly aware of the role insulin plays in diabetes. What you might not know is how it also hinders weight loss efforts. Insulin goes to work every time you eat a food rich in carbohydrates. Once produced by the pancreas, it sends signals to the cells, encouraging them to absorb excess blood glucose. After being taken in by the cells, the body transforms the glucose into energy. Without insulin, excess blood glucose does not get absorbed and will be stored as fat.
To prevent this, you should slowly wean yourself off of treats that are high in sugar. An American favorite is Reese’s peanut butter cups. Here is an easy alternative I make at home that gives me more protein and tastes even better!
Discussion
Now that you know about the different body types, I’d love to hear which category you fall into. I’m an endomorph and I have mastered my body type to make weight loss effortless, so I know you can too!
