In the 1940s, a University of Houston professor named William Sheldon coined the concept that all people fall into one of three body types, called somatotypes.
It was brave. It was revolutionary. It was complete nonsense.
The whole idea of a Three sizes for everyone The classification system has never been supported by science. In fact, it has been resolutely avoided almost since its inception. But that did little to slow the flow of misinformation, which Sheldon based largely on personal observations.
Just in case you’ve forgotten, or been mercifully spared, this classic junk science, a quick review may be in order.
What are the three different body types?
Like many of us, there’s a good chance you learned about the three somatotypes in a middle school health class. And on the surface, they probably seemed pretty reasonable.
Ectomorph
Ectomorphs are described as long and lean, with a thin waist and little body fat or muscle mass. Gaining weight can be difficult, but losing weight is relatively easy. Imagine Zoe Saldana or Bruce Lee.
Endomorph
According to Sheldon, endomorphs have ample reserves of body fat and muscle, which makes it easier to gain weight and consequently more difficult to lose weight. Think of Serena Williams or Chris Pratt (approx Parks and Recreation).
Mesomorphic
Mesomorphs are characterized as athletic, solid and strong – day-walkers between the other two somatotypes. Take Mark Wahlberg or Alex Morgan.
Are body types real?
Again, Sheldon’s somatotypes are inaccurate and greatly oversimplify the human body.
“Few people fit completely into one of the classic body types,” says Trevor Thieme, CSCS. “Most people are a mix of them. For example, you might have the upper body of a “mesomorph” and the lower body of an “ectomorph.” But the ability to classify your body type doesn’t matter because it doesn’t necessarily inform you about what your body does: how it behaves respond to the training.”
Why is that? Fitness myth difficult to get rid of?
“I think this has a lot to do with the fact that most people want an easy solution when it comes to fitness and fat loss,” says Thieme. “And the idea that if you have body type X, you should focus on exercise type Y provides exactly that.”
But such thinking is backwards, says Thieme. “You have to Start with your goalbecause that will shape your training program, regardless of your “body type”.
Can you change your body shape?
Somatotype does not predict training response, which means there is a lot you can do about it Change your body composition. And it’s actually quite liberating to start with your goal (e.g., building more muscle) and then work backwards to determine your optimal training plan.
This means that as a classic ectomorph you don’t necessarily have to prefer distance running Pump iron. And if you’re an endomorph, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t train for a marathon if that’s on your bucket list.
The key point here is that you won’t know what you’re capable of until you try. However, it is important to know what is in your control and what is not.
The role of genetics
To be clear, just because somatotypes have no impact on performance does not mean the training field is equal. No matter your destination or the route you take to get there, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter others who reach your destination faster or slower than you, because what’s ingrained in your DNA still matters.
“There are many factors that we can manipulate to our advantage depending on our goals – training frequency, training intensity, which exercises we prioritize, programming.” PeriodizationDietary factors – but it’s also important to understand that some people have chosen the right parents,” says Tony GentilcoreCSCS, owner of CORE, his training studio in Brookline, Massachusetts.
“Some people just look at a dumbbell and they grow. Some people have to fight and train by any means necessary a lot to see the fruits of their labor,” he adds.
The most important factors when choosing a training course
And that’s true regardless of your end goal. “But at the end of the day, anything that you really enjoy doing and that you stick to consistently ‘works’,” says Gentilcore.
So adapt your training to your goals, training preferences, time constraints and strengths and weaknesses, advises Thieme. “Your exercise plan must be tailored to you as an individual and not based on a body type category that wasn’t even created with exercise in mind.”
The history of somatotypes
Sheldon didn’t even catalog body types for fitness purposes. He was a psychologist who postulated that it was possible to create an attachment personality Features for every body type. He was more interested in how our bodies might shape our character than how they actually worked.
Sheldon hypothesized that ectomorphs are introverted, artistic, and emotionally intense. Endomorphs are happy, relaxed and sociable. Mesomorphs are assertive, adventurous, and competitive.
If this sounds like poppycock, balderdash, or some other 1940s word for bull effluvium, that’s because it is: Sheldon’s entire motivation for his studies has been thoroughly exposed.
“Sheldon’s toxic eugenicist views and equation of physique with destiny made him increasingly unpopular in the years following World War II,” a 2015 article said Canadian Bulletin of Medical History. “The death blow to his career was delivered by his former assistant Barbara Honeyman Heath. By publicly denouncing his methods as fraudulent and his somatotypes as inaccurate, she built a successful career modifying somatotyping techniques and participating in projects around the world.”
Why does the body type myth persist?
One would think that Sheldon’s idea of three primary body types would have gone the way of the Segway, Zune, New Coke, etc., given this strong criticism from the medical and fitness establishments Cheetos lip balm (Yes, that was a real product).
But the somatotype myth is surprisingly strong, as any quick Google search will show you. Just one of far too many examples: London Daily Mail The newspaper claimed: “Scientists say we all fit into three groups (and knowing our shape is key to choosing the right workout).”
The three-body type theory gained so much attention so quickly that it soon became more or less mainstream, where it has remained to this day. Somatotyping works similarly to the zodiac because pretty much everyone can find characteristics of themselves in almost any “personalized” label.
Sorry if we ruined astrology for you too.
