Lately there have been a lot of pictures circulating the
internet that depict the 3 body type classifications and 3 people who
apparently epitomise these classifications. Having a Bsc in fitness and health
myself I look at these people and think that people have totally the wrong idea
as to the definitions of what makes an ectomorph, endomorph and mesomorph. So
this will be my attempt at clearing up this subject and possibly looking at
finding the correct people who fit into these categories.
First of I think the best way to start this is giving a
small introduction to somatotype’s. In
the 1940’s W.H. Sheldon along with others introduced the world to the term
“somatotype” in the varieties of human
physique. Sheldon declared that the purpose behind this was to “provide a three
dimensional system for description of the human physique”. Now this meant he never intended to class
people as one classification or the other.
What are the Classifications?
Endomorph (711):
Usually this individual has short limbs and easily gains
adipose weight. This will of course hamper their athletic ability in sports
needing speed and agility. However sports of pure strength and power really do
lend themselves to Endomorphs. Weightlifters and sumo wrestlers will
predominantly fall more towards this category then others.
Mesomorph(171):
Mesomorphs will excel in sports where strength, agility and
speed are dominant. With a medium height and tendency to gain muscle very
easily makes them great athletes if trained effectively. Sustaining low body
fat and can respond to cardio and resistance training.
Ectomorph (117):
Normally these individuals are tall, slender and thin. So
this would lend them to more endurance and flexibility sports. They can tone
and maintain very low body fat percentages but building mass if very difficult
for these Athletes.
How the Somatotype scale works…
Sheldon created a rating system to help classify athlete’s
somatotype. This rating was based on a 1-7 scale and gave a score for all 3
classifications. The order the scale works in is Endomorph, mesomorph and then
ectomorph. If anyone did by any chance fall into the very extreme of the
classifications there somatotype would look like the number combinations after
the headings above.
Below I have included a version of the somatotype diagram
depicting where certain Athletes would average on the scale. As you can see, no
one can be classed as a pure endomorph, mesomorph or ectomorph.
So using this information I will give you a few famous
athletes, I want you to try to guess which class they predominantly lean
towards and if you’re really good, try to guess there scale rating.
Michael Phelps Mo
Farah Bradley Wiggins
Serena Williams Usain
Bolt Arnold schwarzenegger
Muhammad Ali Peter
Crouch Andy Murray
Castro Giovanni Chris
Hoy George St. Pierre
References:
Carter, L. Heath, B,L.. (1990).
Somatotyping- development and applications. Cambridge University Press. 1-16.
BAYIOS, I.A. et al. (2006) Anthropometric,
body composition and somatotype differences of Greek elite female basketball,
volleyball and handball players. MD.J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 46 (2), p.
271-80
SHELDON, W.H. and STEVENS, S.S. and TUCKER,
W.B. (c.1940) The varieties of human physique. Oxford, England: Harper
HEATH, B.H. J. E. and CARTER, J.E.L. (1967)
A modified somatotype method. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 27
(1), p. 57–74
