What Your Body Shape Says About Your Health

Sources Medically Reviewed on 04/17/2020 Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS on April 17, 2020
IMAGES PROVIDED BY:
1) Roger Harris / Science Source
2) Thomas Northcut / Thinkstock
3) Wikipedia Commons
4) Wikipedia Commons
5) olesiabilkei / Thinkstock, Purestock / Thinkstock
6) furtaev / Thinkstock, AlexStar / Thinkstock
7) Evan Oto / Science Source
8) monkeybusinessimages / Thinkstock
9) kowalska-art / Thinkstock, pialhovik / Thinkstock
10) LightFieldStudios / Thinkstock
11) Halfpoint / Thinkstock
12) monkeybusinessimages / Thinkstock
13) Wavebreakmedia Ltd / Thinkstock
SOURCES:
American Council on Exercise: “How to Eat and Train for an Ectomorph Body Type,” “How to Eat and Train for an Endomorph Body Type,” “How to Eat and Train for a Mesomorph Body Type.”
CDC: “Knowing is Not Enough—Act on Your Family Health History,” “Body Mass Index (BMI).”
Cleveland Clinic: “Weight Management & Obesity,” “Physical Examination.”
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: “Waist Size Matters.”
Harvard Health Publishing: “Taking aim at belly fat,” “Big thighs may be wise.”
Mayo Clinic: “Men's health: Checkups and screenings are key.”
The Harvard Clinical And Translational Science Center: “Somatotypes.”
University of Houston Center For Wellness Without Borders: “The 3 Somatotypes.”
Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS on April 17, 2020
This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information.
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.