Body shape breakdown refers to the categorization of human body shapes into various types. These classifications are often used in medical, fitness, and fashion to help characterize a person’s physiology and physical characteristics. Such as broad categories such as A/B/O, ectomorph, mesomorph, or endomorph.
A person’s body shape is crudely measured by their waist-to-hip ratio. A ratio greater than 0 is considered an ectomorphic body type while a waist-to-body ratio less than 0 is considered an endomorphic body type.
A person with a “pear-shaped” body has a higher percentage of fat on the hips and thighs while lacking on the waist. An “apple-shaped” person has more fat around the waist and less on their hips and thighs. A person with a “figure 8” body shape has an even distribution of fat around their waist, hips, and thighs (most common in females). An outlier to these is the athletic body shape, which is characterized by a large amount of muscle mass with little fat.
The mesomorph body shape refers to muscular individuals who are agile and have lean, tight muscles. The figure is often V-shaped, with narrow shoulders and a broad chest. The arms are strong and long compared to the legs. The face is often square-shaped with a prominent jaw line, cheekbones, and pronounced brow ridge.
Athletic body shape refers to the slender, muscular, athletic body shape.
The endomorph body shape is characterized by a soft, round, full body build. The torso is often short with the arms and legs. Males are often overweight or obese (difficult to distinguish from an obese mesomorph). Females tend to be short and have a rounded faces with small eyes and wide hips.
Conclusion
Body shape is an important consideration when choosing to clothe. Clothing that fits the body type can help to emphasize the physical attributes of someone’s body. It is also a differentiating factor between people of different body types. Generally, clothing that fits the body type rather than an individual’s weight leads to a more flattering appearance. The same clothing can look very different on a short or tall person depending on the material, cut, and style of garment.
