Calculate your body shape with the calculator below and find out.
Body Shape
Everyone has their own genetic makeup that influences their body shape, or basically how their body distributes fat.
While body shape sometimes brings up negative connotations associated with superficial appearance or attractiveness, knowing your body type is actually a big part of understanding the best dietary choices and exercise routines to adopt in order to lead a healthy lifestyle.
This is because individuals with different body types distribute and store body fat in different areas of their body and have a different distribution of muscle.
Understanding your body shape is also an important component in finding clothes and a style that you feel the most comfortable and confident in.
How to Measure for Your Body Shape
Shoulders: Start at the tip of one shoulder and measure in a circle all the way around to your other shoulder. Keep the measuring tape high up around your shoulders so it almost slips off.
Bust: Take the measurement at the fullest point of your bust. Make sure that the tape is not too tight. You should be able to inhale and exhale freely as the measuring tape is wrapped around.
Waist: Measure your waist at the narrowest portion just above your navel.
Hips: For your hip measurement, stand up straight and wrap the tape measure around the widest part of the hips as viewed from the side.
What Is Your Body Shape?
Hourglass
An hourglass body shape has a waist circumference that is at least 25% smaller than shoulder or bust measurements. In addition, their waist is at least 25% smaller than their hips, and the shoulder and hip measurements are within 5% of each other.
This resembles the image of an hourglass.
Many younger women have an hourglass-shaped body type.
Since they accumulate less abdominal fat, these women are less likely to suffer from diabetes, heart disease, and cancer than those with the “apple-shaped” body type.
Round/Apple
Individuals with an apple shape body type have a waist measurement that is greater than their hip and bust measurements. This means that they have higher levels of abdominal obesity.
As mentioned above, this visceral fat poses the greatest health risk. People with an apple shape body type have a greater risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Inverted Triangle People with inverted triangular body shapes have a shoulder or bust measurement that is more than 5% bigger than their hip measurement. This means that they generally have broad shoulders with a narrow waist. Individuals with this body shape tend to have a high metabolism.
Both men and women with smaller body frames are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis do to having less bone mass to draw from; leading to osteoporosis related fractures.
Pear
People with a pear-shaped body carry more weight in their hips and butt compared to their stomachs. Their shoulder or bust measurement is more than 5% smaller than hip measurement.
Some studies have found that fat in hips and thighs is actually associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular disease compared to belly fat. However, it should be noted that if you are overweight, fat loss in any part of your body is beneficial for overall health.
Rectangle
The rectangle body shape is also sometimes referred to as the ruler or straight body shape. Men and women with a rectangular body type have a waist circumference that is less than 25% smaller than shoulder or bust, while the shoulder, bust, and hip measurements are within 5% of each other.
These people have a narrower frame and may be flatter in the chest and butt. Individuals with a rectangular body shape tend to carry weight proportionately, but can also carry weight around their abdomen.
Many long-distance runners and dancers have this shape. These people generally look skinny, however it may be harder for them to build lean muscle mass. This can sometimes slow down their metabolism.
Weight Loss for Your Body Type
Move beyond counting calories to counting macros; allowing Melody (Macronazi) to help you find the right numbers and percentages for your personal weight loss and body shape needs.
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