The most classically athletic body shape is the mesomorph, characterized by a naturally muscular build, moderate frame, wider shoulders, narrow waist, and the ability to gain and lose muscle/fat easily, making them versatile for various sports, though height and limb length also greatly influence success in specific disciplines like basketball or rowing. While mesomorphs are often seen as "ideal," true athleticism depends more on muscle fiber type, body composition (low excess fat), and sport-specific needs.
Mesomorphs are generally regarded as your 'athletic' body type. These people find it easy to gain muscle and burn fat. Mesomorphs can afford a moderate level of carbohydrates to fuel their training and should keep their protein intake high to maintain lean muscle mass.
The three athletic body types are ectomorph, endomorph and mesomorph. Each has its own characteristics, and you can use these to determine which body type you have. You will then be able to arrange to have your training/eating habits adjusted accordingly. This will help you to achieve your fitness goals.
Hourglass is the rarest body type, with only estimated 8% of women having this figure. Here's the thing: hourglass bodies are versatile. The stereotypical hourglass is too narrow of a depiction that often fails to capture the true beauty and diversity of this shape.
Athletic body types are characterized by muscularity, broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and low body fat levels. These individuals often excel in sports requiring strength, power, and speed due to their natural ability to gain muscle mass and recover efficiently.
In the world of health and fitness, we would refer to ectomorphs them as “hard gainers.” Celebrity female ectomorphs include Kate Moss, Natalie Portman, Taylor Swift, Kate Middleton as well as Cameron Diaz.
"36-24-36" refers to the widely recognized (though often unrealistic) ideal measurements (in inches) for a woman's bust, waist, and hips, representing an hourglass figure that became a beauty standard in mid-20th-century popular culture, famously associated with figures like Marilyn Monroe. It signifies a balanced, curvy shape, with the bust and hips being significantly wider than a narrow waist, and is often cited in music and media.
Body Shapes with the Highest Risk of Health Problems
Apple and pear body shapes tend to have the highest risk. Apples tend to be at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, and strokes because they hold a larger amount of tummy fat.
Zendaya has an inverted triangle body shape with broader shoulder lines and narrower hips. Let's break down the styling secrets that compliment her body shape. She masterfully balances her frame by adding volume to her lower body.
Hourglass figures are often considered the "ideal" female body shape, with a balanced upper body and lower body and a narrow waist. If your bust and hips are nearly equal in size and you have a noticeable waist, you likely have an hourglass shape.
However, significantly greater ectomorphy is characteristic of middle distance runners compared to sprinters. The average somatotype of middle runners are mesomorph-ectomorph (1.60–3.82–3.81), while sprinters (1.68–4.94–2.90) and long distance runners (2.11–4.72–3.36) are ectomorphic mesomorphs (Fig. 1).
The body type categories take on the shape of certain letters. They are the A-frame, H-frame, I-frame, O-frame, T-frame and the Xframe. Over the next six articles, this column will focus on each body frame type. I will describe the frame, provide exercises for that frame type, and include healthy eating options.
Research shows that an ideal 100m sprinter is tall, with a strong mesomorphic body shape with a high percentage of fast twitch fibres (more than 80%). Top sprinters have slim lower legs and relatively narrow hips which gives a biomechanical advantage.
Various sources claim that ESTPs tend to make the best or most successful athletes (1). This type is also referred to as 'The Doer'.
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Between his Olympia winning physique in the 70's and his movie star muscles he carried in the 80's, Schwarzenegger was responsible for inspiring many people to start training for more than two generations now.
The classic hourglass figure is characterized by broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and strong hips. It's a healthy and athletic physique from head to toe.
Angelina Jolie: Angelina Jolie is often cited as an example of an inverted triangle body shape. She has broad shoulders and a toned upper body, which creates the classic V-shaped silhouette.
Zendaya: The internet says she is a 32B, but I would say she is much closer to a 26DD/28D. 2. Marilyn Monroe: According to Google, Marilyn was a 36D, but I would estimate her to have been much closer to a 28GG/30G. 3.
The rarest female body type is generally considered the hourglass, characterized by shoulders and hips of similar width with a significantly narrower, defined waist, with studies suggesting less than 10% of women naturally fit this description, while some data points to the inverted triangle (broad shoulders, narrow hips/waist) also being quite rare, potentially under 1% in some views, though hourglass is more consistently cited as the least common overall.
That's largely due to hormones. Estrogen encourages fat to settle in the hips and thighs as a way of preparing the body for pregnancy. Genetics also play a big role in where your body prefers to store fat, and for some people, that means the lower body holds onto it longer than other areas.
ECTOMORPH. The extreme ectomorph physique is a fragile and delicate one. The bones are light, joints are small and muscles are slight. The limbs are relatively long in proportion and the shoulders droop.
Bhatia is a triangular body shape but she always looks perfectly balance and it's not luck, it's smart styling. She wears A line dresses, flared kurtis and flared jeans. Anything that skims over the hip without clinging.
Are you at risk? Male*: more than 94 cm (37 inches) is increased risk; more than 102 cm (40 inches) is substantially increased risk. Female*: more than 80 cm (31.5 inches) is increased risk; more than 88 cm (35 inches) is substantially increased risk.
The "ideal" measurements for women: the Venus index