How to determine the type of male figure: types and typical examples

Share this article:

To emphasize the brightness of your own image, you need to know how to determine the type of male figure - with examples and photos you can establish the type of physique and note its main features. This will add zest to the style and place spectacular accents on those parts of the body that are especially attractive. The stylists of the International School of Professions highlight several secrets of choosing clothes in order to hide minor flaws and highlight advantages in each specific case. Let's look at this in more detail.

Male breasts can have different shapes for several reasons.

Overweight

Psychological aspect

Hypertrophy

Hormonal imbalance

People who abuse steroids are at risk of developing gynecomastia. Some approved dietary supplements can also lead to female-type breast development. A characteristic sign of gynecomastia that has developed as a result of taking steroids is the presence of swollen nipples and a clearly small layer of subcutaneous fat.

Often this problem can only be solved by a doctor, and in some cases surgical treatment is necessary. Therefore, consulting a doctor is mandatory!

How to achieve the desired result?

First of all, you need to estimate your body fat percentage.

What to do if you are overweight?

Essentially, your actions should be identical to what you would do if you wanted to lose weight in other parts of your body. First of all, you need to create a calorie deficit and focus on cardio training. Strength training alone will not solve your problem. They must be included in the training program, but you should always remember that the main emphasis is on CARDIO! And best of all, 4-6 days a week, at least 30 minutes. The fact is that by paying more attention to strength exercises, you will automatically increase the caloric content of your diet, which means you will not be able to reduce your chest muscles.

If you are not overweight

Let's say that your diet is balanced, you are not overweight, you do not use steroids and, nevertheless, you notice a change in the shape of your breasts according to the female type, or swelling of your nipples. In this case, first of all, you should visit a doctor who will prescribe the necessary examinations. Accordingly, if this is a medical problem, then the effect will occur only after you have completed the full course of therapy. To make you feel more comfortable, there are special compression garments. These T-shirts won't get rid of the problem, but they will make it less obvious to others.

If you have a lot of muscle mass

If you want to reduce the volume of developed chest muscles, then, first of all, you need to stop doing exercises for the pectoral muscle, which will ultimately lead to its gradual decrease (training is needed not only for growth but also for maintaining constant shape). Another option is to start working specifically on endurance, which, combined with the lack of chest exercises, will allow you to achieve the desired result.

If you have any questions about the material you have read, you can ask our specialists via the contact form or SIGN UP FOR A FREE CONSULTATION. We will be happy to answer everyone!

Why do men need nipples: pseudoscientific versions

It’s worth saying right away that the question “Why does a man need nipples?”
modern scientists cannot yet give an exact answer. However, there are several common - and erroneous - theories on this matter. Male nipples are an erogenous zone that serves as arousal during sex. How reliable is this answer? If you conduct a survey among representatives of the stronger sex, you can hear different answers - positive, negative, and neutral. Not all men are turned on by having their nipples caressed. For some, touching this part of the chest can cause different sensations - from disgust to irritation.

Men need nipples for beauty. This stereotype has historically developed in the minds of many people. In most cases, the laws of nature are not aimed specifically at aesthetics, but all human organs and the appearance of his body “work” more to ensure vital activity and survival. It is very difficult to imagine male breasts without nipples. At least in the human mind, a man without nipples looks unaesthetic. However, this version is unlikely to justify the presence of nipples in men.

A man needs this part of the body in order to cause him severe pain and humiliation when fighting an enemy. It is known that sensitive nipples are a rather vulnerable and painful area. In addition, infliction of pain and a feeling of weakness in the understanding of the stronger sex is, in its own way, a humiliation of dignity. It is unlikely that any man will like it when his nipples are twisted, pinched or bitten. However, there are many more painful and vulnerable places on the body, the injuries of which can bring not only unbearable pain, but also disruption of the functioning of vital organs. Such vulnerable areas on the male body include the penis and groin area.

The following answer to the question “Why does a man need nipples?” has mythical origins. According to this version, the first people were hermaphrodites who acquired sexual characteristics not immediately, but after some time. All hermaphrodites had breasts, but in men they stopped developing due to uselessness and remained in the form of nipples. However, this version also has no scientific basis and evidence.

According to early scientific theory, the original purpose of male nipples is to breastfeed offspring. This version was based on the fact that female and male mammary glands have a similar structure, so an analogy can be drawn between their functional purpose.

Proponents of this theory argued that in the process of evolution, breastfeeding of offspring by males was not necessary, and because of this, the mammary glands of the stronger sex stopped developing. But if you look at other mammals, for example, primates, we can say that males have never had the function of a “nurse.” Therefore, this version was considered erroneous.

Additional material for this article

Chest Exercises In order to get the most out of your workouts, chest exercises must be tailored to your goals. Slouching In medicine, a slouching type of posture is called “kyphosis” (literally translated as “hump”). Kyphosis causes pain in the back, neck, and possibly pain in the shoulders and limbs. Kyphosis is often associated with other spinal problems such as lumbar or cervical hyperlordosis. Back Flexibility If you want to have a healthy spine and beautiful posture, then stretching exercises that develop back flexibility should be a mandatory part of your training program. Muscle Tone From a fitness perspective, muscle tone is the appearance of a muscle. It increases during cardio and strength training and decreases after flexibility exercises. “Be in good shape” - have pronounced sculpted muscles, be fit. Body Fat Percentage To objectively estimate your body fat percentage, different methods are used. Some of them are quite simple, and you can easily do the calculations yourself within a few minutes, others are more complex and require special equipment. Rating of sports nutrition manufacturers The list of the best sports nutrition manufacturers today is not that long. It is very difficult to gain consumer trust, because, as you know, reputation takes years to develop.

Three golden rules in action.

If you've ever been even slightly interested in fashion and style, then you've heard about body types and come across the phrases "pear-shaped", "apple-shaped", etc.

These body types are related to women, and trying to pin them on men is not justified - why should men define their body shape through the prism of women's figures?

If you play sports, you may have heard about the classification of body shapes into “ectomorph”, “mesomorph” and “endomorph”, but this classification is based on a person’s physical fitness and his ability to gain muscle mass or lose weight, and has nothing to do with fashion or style.

How to determine male body types?

Before you continue reading, let me remind you of the three golden rules of masculinity: - Try to look taller - use everything that slims you and lengthens your legs. — We strive for a narrow waist - wear clothes that visually make your waist narrow. — Broad shoulders – a good choice of color and texture will help broaden the shoulders.

I offer you the following simple classification.

“Rectangle” (aka “Brick”, “Cucumber”)

If you keep such a body in athletic shape, then without unnecessary thinness it is very attractive. The peculiarity is the almost identical width of the upper, middle and lower parts of the body. Such people may have good, evenly developed muscle mass. But the type is also often found with a normal and thin build. In the latter case, gaining weight can be difficult. Without a certain diet and training, a small mass remains without much change.

What to wear

To create a feeling of volume in the shoulder area, you need to try very hard. Therefore, we pay attention to:

• accessories that can be worn around the neck (scarves, ties, bow ties, etc.);
• double-breasted jackets, coats and other outerwear, with shoulder straps;
• hoodies, sweatshirts and sweatshirts with hoods;
• If in the previous version of the physique layering was not the best choice, then here it is the most faithful assistant.

Several items worn at the same time can visually expand the shoulders, and this is exactly what we need. It would be better if the top was a couple of shades lighter. The shade of the trousers is as dark as an axiom. It is also worth paying attention to the horizontal stripes of the top layer, a bright print or other variations that can easily highlight the shoulder girdle.

What not to wear

In terms of what will hide shortcomings for others, there are several recommendations:

• Avoid wearing a small amount of clothing, it will show all the flaws, even on a summer day. Let a light shirt be worn over a T-shirt or polo;
• the shoulder girdle will seem even smaller than it actually is if the trousers are light in color and the T-shirt or jacket is dark;
• give up cardigans, frock coats, long jackets, coats and other similar clothing.

Don't go to extremes and wear several shirts at the same time. It is enough to throw a vest or jacket over a turtleneck, and the top will already seem more expressive.

Thin body type

If you are of a thin body type, you probably know this.

Typically, you don't gain weight too quickly and can eat whatever you want without fear of it affecting your figure.

Distinctive features are slender legs, especially in the hip area. The chest and waist volumes are approximately the same or differ slightly, which gives the torso a long, rectangular shape.

Let's remember the 3 golden rules:

- Try to look taller - people with a thin build naturally look slim and tall, regardless of height. - We strive for a narrow waist - a thin waist is your natural feature, you just have to make sure that your clothes emphasize it. - Broad shoulders - alas, you don’t have them. And it is the width of the shoulders that should be emphasized when choosing clothes.

To summarize, your goal is to emphasize and draw attention to your thin waist and slender legs, while making your shoulders wider.

• Slim, fitted trousers/jeans/chinos in bright, eye-catching colors – will draw attention to your legs and height.

Standard body type

Those with a standard body shape have shoulders that are slightly wider than the waist, thus creating the desired V-shaped torso (broad shoulders with a narrower waist). You tend to lose and gain weight very easily.

Some men with a standard body type may have excess weight in the abdominal or chest area. If you have it, admit it, you need to know the enemy by sight.

Let's remember the 3 golden rules:

- Try to look taller - It all depends on your height, however, you can make you taller and slimmer in almost any situation. — We strive for a narrow waist — If you have a belly, then you will have to work on your waist. — Broad shoulders — As a rule, your shoulders are quite wide, you just need to emphasize them.

• Slim, fitted trousers/jeans/chinos in bright, eye-catching colours.

• Blazer with one or two buttons - will create a waist and make your shoulders appear broader.

• Light or medium weight knitwear (V-neck jumpers, knitted jumpers).

• Shirts, possibly with rolled up sleeves.

• Choose a cut that fits your body but is not too tight – “fit” means that the garment is not too tight around your figure.

• “Baggy” jeans, flared ones - they will only spoil your figure and upset your proportions.

• Loose or wide-cut blazers, jackets or jackets will flatter your figure.

• Tight and tight-fitting T-shirts, if you have a belly, will highlight features that you would prefer to hide.

• Be careful with short sleeves in any clothing (shirts, T-shirts) - visually they can make your arms look thin and thin.

Athletic body type

The athletic body type assumes that the shoulders and chest volume significantly exceed the waist volume. There is no need to be meticulous and run to take measurements - the visual assessment speaks for itself.

Let's remember the 3 golden rules:

- Try to look taller - you can be tall, but the natural shape of the body adds width, and we must take this into account when creating a style. — We strive for a narrow waist — A thin waist is the result of training in the gym, all that remains is to emphasize it. — Broad shoulders — You have them by nature and it’s noticeable.

You need to gain height to balance out your muscular physique. The width created by the muscular arms and chest must be well balanced to avoid the gorilla effect.

It's also important to show off the work you've put in in the gym, but to do it skillfully.

• Regular cut jeans or slightly tapered jeans (don't skinny jeans) - very skinny jeans will make you look like an inverted pyramid.

• Blazer with two buttons - can emphasize a wide chest and lengthen the waist.

• Lightweight knits and fitted knits.

• T-shirts with short sleeves - will show off your biceps/triceps - however, avoid too much neckline, no need to expose your chest.

• Shirts, perhaps with rolled up sleeves or a bright print, such as plaid - this will focus attention on the upper body.

• Skinny jeans or wide-leg jeans will ruin the shape you worked on.

• “Baggy” jumpers, T-shirts, cardigans, blazers are equally terrible for you, as they will hide the results of your work in the gym.

• Any black clothing will simply camouflage your curves.

Is there a difference?

While we are small, under the age of eight to ten years, there is no difference. Next, the process begins to take place differently, and female nipples become more noticeable.

The amount of the hormone estrogen in the body increases, breast tissue changes, milk ducts develop and approach the tops of the nipples. As for the male glands, no special changes occur to them, and outwardly they continue to look the same as in childhood, protruding forward by two to five millimeters.

Full body type

Let's not beat around the bush. Some men have significant excess fat around their body.

It's not a big problem, but if you understand the terrain, it's much easier to build on it.

Typically, your legs don't gain weight in proportion to the rest of your body, although there are exceptions.

Let's remember the 3 golden rules:

- Try to look taller - it is critical for you to add height and visually try to slim yourself. — We strive for a narrow waist - your waist is usually wider than your chest, and sometimes even your shoulders. — Broad shoulders – depending on the individual, the shoulders can be either wider or equal to the waist. We will increase them.

The goal here is to smooth out the overall shape with a balance between the upper and lower half of the body. This goal can be achieved by wearing clothing that hides excess fat and at the same time adds shape where it is needed.

• Wide cut jeans such as boot cut or relaxed fit will help balance your upper body.

• Stylish one-button jackets help create shape at the waist and shoulders.

• Lightweight knits that will hide excess – use lightweight fabrics to soften the shape of your body.

• The top button on the shirt is not fastened.

• Classic style in a casual direction - with jeans and a T-shirt it is difficult to get the right shape, it is better to use elements of a classic style (shirts, jackets) to look attractive.

• Slim or skinny jeans/chinos – these will make your upper body look wider.

• Tapered outerwear – we need to hide the excess, and not suffocate the body.

• Bulky knitwear – Bulky and baggy clothes will be a problem for you because. will add even more volume.

• Short sleeve shirts – will make your arms smaller and your torso wider, which is not good.

• Light shoes with dark jeans/trousers – the color contrast will make you look wider.

How to hide your belly?

Belly belly fat is a very common problem in men aged 35 and older.

Unfortunately, once your metabolism begins to slow down around the age of 30, the result of drinking beer and poor nutrition takes its toll on your waistline.

As a result, the shoulders and chest appear narrower than the waist, due to the widened midsection of the body. If this is you, then be honest because you have one of the most common male body shapes.

This situation differs from the full body type in the absence of fat accumulation in the chest and hips.

It is important to make the shoulders visually wider and add width to the legs, despite the excess weight in the abdominal area.

Both of these tips will help you reduce the appearance of a big belly.

• Dress or flare jeans will help balance out a large belly.

• Dark bottoms, as well as high-waisted trousers or jeans, will help emphasize the waist and hide the belly.

• Light shirts combined with a dark vest - the contrast will attract the attention of others, while the dark color of the vest will make your torso slimmer.

• Two-button blazers – These will discreetly disguise your belly.

• Skinny jeans or narrow-cut jeans will highlight your belly and draw attention to it.

• Tight-fitting T-shirts or jerseys – no comment.

• Short Sleeve Shirts – Short sleeves will draw unnecessary attention to your belly.

You noticed that I did not mention the relationship between height and body types. And this is no coincidence - it doesn’t matter what height you are, since the body type works for everyone.

Endomorph and mesomorph - how do these body types differ? Key characteristics of each of the three body types, summary table and training recommendations.

How to determine your body type - are you an athletic mesomorph or an endomorph who easily gains excess weight? Although the key difference between body types is the width of the bones, metabolic parameters also play an important role.

Below in the material you will find a summary table of male body types with recommendations for choosing the optimal training and nutrition strategy. In particular, endomorphs need a reduction in carbohydrates in their diet and regular cardio, while mesomorphs should devote more time to strength training.

How to independently determine a man’s body type

It is enough to look closely at the reflection in the mirror to see the main advantages. It is especially important to pay attention to the proportions of the shoulder girdle in relation to the hips. Despite the fact that there are 4 main types, only 3 can be distinguished by eye - inverted and regular triangles, and an oval. It is better to compare individual characteristics with a table.

To see the type of male figure, it is worth looking at photos of striking examples, from which you can easily determine by finding analogies with your own body.

// What are body types?

Body types are a classification of the most common types of human figures, divided into ectomorphs, mesomorphs and endomorphs. Somatotype theory was developed by William Sheldon in the 1940s and was based on the analysis of anthropological parameters of male students. At the same time, scientists initially did not consider the characteristics of women’s physiques¹.

An ectomorph is a tall person prone to thinness, a mesomorph has a classic athletic physique, and an endomorph is a plump somatotype prone to gaining excess weight. Separately, Sheldon noted that these body types do not occur in a “pure” form - real people have more pronounced and less pronounced characteristics of all three types.

Different body types have distinctive characteristics of metabolism and muscle function. Ultimately, the endomorphic component provokes fat gain, while the mesomorph can remain in sports shape for the rest of his life, even with a minimal level of physical activity. Ectomorphs find it difficult to gain weight in general and muscles in particular.

// Body types - briefly:

• ectomorph - naturally thin man
• mesomorph - athletic body type
• endomorph - tendency to gain excess weight

How to determine your body type?

One of the key characteristics for determining body type is skeletal density and bone and wrist thickness. It is also important that the wrist circumference remains unchanged regardless of the amount of fat or muscle mass in the body. Typically, classic ectomorphs have thin bones, mesomorphs have medium bones, and endomorphs have wide bones.

In most cases, in ectomorph men, the circumference of the wrist (measurements are taken along the bone just above the location of the wristwatch) is less than 17 cm, in mesomorphs - 17-20 cm, in endomorphs - more than 20 cm. In the table below, you will find other physical characteristics of somatotypes, as well as the pros and cons of each body type.

Summary table to identify different body types:

• Ectomorph - wrist less than 17 cm; narrow shoulders and a flat chest, thin and long limbs, thinness and a minimum of subcutaneous fat. The advantage of an ectomorphic body type is the ability to quickly pump up the abs, as well as the absence of the need to follow a diet. The downside is difficulty gaining weight and increased cortisol levels.
• Mesomorph - wrist from 17 to 20 cm; broad shoulders and a developed chest, medium to large bones, low fat with noticeable muscles. The advantages of a mesomorphic body type are high levels of testosterone (in men) and an innate love of sports. The disadvantages of a mesomorph are a tendency to increase cholesterol levels and problems with blood vessels.
• Endomorph - wrist larger than 20 cm; large bones and massive limbs, short arms and legs, wide waist and hips, excess fat deposits. The advantage of an endomorphic body type is considered to be a powerful bone structure, which allows one to achieve great results in sports. The downside is the tendency to become overweight and the risk of developing diabetes when consuming fast carbohydrates.

Body types according to Sheldon

The Sheldon method body types are currently considered the most popular.

Endomorph

An endomorph is distinguished by the presence of fat deposits . The fact is that people in this category suffer from slow metabolism , so it is most difficult for them to get in shape.

People tend to accumulate fat, which makes it much harder for them to exercise or bodybuild.

Distinctive features:

• broad shoulders;
• high aperture position;
• short arms, legs and neck;
• rounded chest shape.

In order for endomorphs to get in shape, they are advised to eat smaller meals , lead a healthy lifestyle, exercise and rest.

Endomorph

Mesomorph

It is considered the most sporty option. Mesomorphs can easily build muscle mass . Such people often engage in bodybuilding . Mesomorphs have:

• strong tendons and bones;
• relief muscles;
• broad shoulders;
• medium or tall height;
• proportional body;
• fast metabolism;
• a good appetite;
• stocky figure.

Ectomorph

Such people have a rather slender, lean body.

It is quite difficult for them to gain muscle mass . The fact is that they have an accelerated metabolism. But among ectomorphs there are those who manage to pump up their muscles .

Ectomorphs have:

• thin and fragile bones;
• narrow shoulders;
• long limbs;
• natural thinness and angularity;
• large supply of energy;
• medium or tall height.

Ectomorph

Mesomorph - characteristics

A mesomorph is an athletic body type with a penchant for playing various sports. Mesomorphs are characterized by increased testosterone levels and a fast metabolism coupled with a good appetite - all this allows them to quickly gain muscle mass. Practice shows that most professional athletes are mesomorphs by nature.

The advantage of this body type is that the mesomorph’s body requires significantly less time to recover - mesomorphs can train not three times a week, as is recommended for ectomorphs and endomophrams, but four to five times. This is the training strategy for sports mesomorphs - the more training, the more noticeable the result.

// Body type “mesomorph”:

• Athletic build
• Low fat with noticeable muscles
• Medium or large bone
• Broad shoulders and developed chest
• Fast Metabolism
• Good strength indicators

Endomorph - characteristics

An endomorph is a body type prone to gaining excess weight. Among Europeans, the endomorph is one of the most common. Such people have a slow metabolism, natural inactivity, and a love of sweets and fatty foods. The combination of these factors quickly leads to a gain of subcutaneous fat, even with a moderate caloric intake.

The key to creating an athletic body and losing weight for endomorphs lies in constant dieting - they must carefully monitor the glycemic index of carbohydrates consumed (limiting them as much as possible in the evening), as well as regularly engage in cardio and other fat-burning workouts. Endomorphs lose weight fastest when doing circuit training.

// Endomorph body type:

• Large bone and massive limbs
• High level of physical strength
• Short arms and legs, wide waist and hips
• Slow Metabolism
• Excessive fat deposition

Workouts for the endomorph

The more muscles in the body, the faster the endomorph’s metabolism works. However, the body most often is not able to build muscle and burn fat at the same time - which is why the best training format for endomorphs will be alternating cycles for gaining muscle mass and cycles for enhancing relief. In winter, the emphasis is on bulking up, while as summer approaches, the emphasis is on cutting.

The difficulty of gaining weight lies in the fact that a slow metabolism and limited ability to store energy make training especially difficult for a beginner endomorph. To “pump up” your metabolism, it is recommended to take a pre-workout and a small portion of fast carbohydrates 30-40 minutes before the start of a workout - this will help give your muscles more energy for exercise.

// Read more:

Ectomorph - characteristics

An ectomorph is a naturally thin person characterized by long limbs and problems with weight (and muscle) gain. Ectomorphs have an accelerated metabolism and poor appetite, and their muscles do not have an adequate supply of glycogen for training, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of strength training and limits the opportunities for muscle recovery and growth.

The strategy of a physical training program for thin ectomorphs should be based on rare, but intense basic exercises and low-repetition training (no more than 8 repetitions of the exercise in each set). The key point is increased caloric intake and special attention to the carbohydrate window immediately after the end of the workout.

// Body type “ectomorph”:

• Low levels of subcutaneous fat
• Accelerated metabolism
• Narrow shoulders and flat chest
• Thin and long limbs
• Low strength indicators

Workouts for an ectomorph

Fast metabolism fundamentally distinguishes thin ectomorphs from overweight endomorphs and muscular mesomorphs. An ectomorph teenager can eat unhealthy and high-calorie foods for weeks without gaining significant excess weight. However, unfortunately, only up to a certain age, after which, even against the background of general thinness, fat in the lower abdomen can begin to grow.

At the same time, nutrition is the main secret of how an ectomorph can quickly build muscle and gain weight. Naturally thin guys who want to bulk up need to significantly increase their daily calorie intake and also consume whey isolate every few hours. The reason is that the growth and subsequent maintenance of muscle mass requires a significant amount of calories.

// Read more:

Why do men need nipples: scientific version

Here's another answer. Until 10-15 weeks of fetal development, embryos do not yet have sexual differences. And only at this stage does a change in hormonal levels occur, and then, based on whether the fetus is a girl or a boy, a change in gender occurs. The nipples themselves form much earlier than hormonal changes occur.

This scientific version explains why a man develops nipples, but is not able to accurately answer the question of why a representative of the stronger sex needs them.

How to find out your body type?

Note that in some people (most often women), the upper body may have signs of one body type, and the lower body another. This is why it is extremely difficult for an ordinary person to determine whether he is an endomorph, mesomorph or ectomorph. For women, the classification of vata, pitta, kapha, adopted in Ayurveda and yoga, is recommended to determine their body type.

At the same time, let us remind you once again that anthropologist William Sheldon, the author of the theory of body types and temperament, practically does not occur separately about somatotypes. In real life, each individual person is always a combination of all three body types, but in certain proportions - in fact, there are about 10 key body types.

How to correctly determine your body type

This can be done in two ways. The first option is to visually assess the body . To do this, you will need to take off your clothes and stand in front of a mirror. In the process, you need to carefully look at areas of the body with a high fat content. Based on this, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. Fat on the stomach, thighs and buttocks is endomorph .
2. Wide chest, presence of muscles, minimal fat deposits - mesomorph .
3. Thin and elongated body, long limbs, lack of fat - ectomorph .

Solovyov's method is considered no less effective . To do this, a man will need to measure his wrist . Based on the following results, you can determine:

• hypersthenic – more than 20 cm;
• normosthenic – 17-20 cm;
• asthenics – less than 17 cm.

Body types in men
Body type plays a key role in the lives of not only athletes, but also ordinary people. Knowing your body type, you can easily improve it to your liking. In addition to appearance, this will have a positive effect on a man’s health.

For more information, watch the video: