The most common body forms for women and how to determine yours

The positive movement of the body has encouraged people, especially women, to see the beauty of all forms and sizes, and it reminded us that the ideals of the body are culturally constructed and not based on science.

There is no “perfect” or “better” body shape, experts agree – but you might always ask yourself what your body shape is and what it says of your health, if what whether.

Women, in particular, have various forms of bodies due to differences in the distribution of fats influenced by hormones such as estrogens, Dr. Lydia C. Alexander, president of obesity Medicine Association, says today.com . And although body forms are largely motivated by genetics, your overall health is influenced by much more, like your lifestyle, your metabolic health and, yes, your genes.

One of the main ways whose body form can reflect health is that if a person carries a lot of visceral fats, which surrounds vital organs such as liver and intestines and is associated with higher risks of heart attack, Cerebral and high blood pressure accident, explains Alexander. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the quantity of visceral fat is estimated using measurements such as the waist tour, the size / hip ratio and the size / height ratio.

Body types that store fat around the median section can be more prone to health risks associated with obesity, because excess fat in this part of the body is linked to conditions such as cardiovascular disease and the Type 2 diabetes, adds Alexander. Of about six most common body forms for women, people with the “apple” body shape can work hard to reduce visceral fat.

Here is what you need to know about the different body forms for women.

How to determine the shape of your body

To determine the shape of your body, consider the size of your size compared to your upper and lower body, as well as where you tend to store fat. Also measure your waist to determine if you are more at risk of health problems. Your waist must be measured up to your navel.

“This does not require any fantasy equipment. Simply use a simple ribbon that costs $ 2 to 3, “said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, who helped develop new criteria to diagnose obesity.

“Women should take a waist of less than 35 inches and 40 inches for men,” she adds.

The waist is a more precise way to assess the risk of health problems linked to obesity that the body mass index (BMI), says Stanford, which is based on size and weight alone.

“Someone can be an athlete with a large muscle mass that does not wear additional fats but who is always obesity by this traditional definition,” she explains. “Someone who is leaner but who carries an additional mass of fat may not be considered obese, so the definition of the BMI was problematic.”

Alexander agrees that it is important to examine a variety of factors when it determines whether a person has an increased risk of obesity related health problems. “Although the type of body can offer indices, it is crucial to assess obesity thanks to complete measures such as body composition, metabolic markers and global state of health,” she says.

There are more than 100 known causes of obesity, Stanford stressed, so although genetics plays an important role, each form of body can encounter risks for the health of visceral fat.

What are the different body forms?

It is important to note that body types are not scientific or medical categories, but just general descriptions which refer to the relative proportions of the upper body, the size and the lower body. Of course, there are as many variations as there are bodies, and each general category includes many different people.

Apple

Commonly called the type of body “apple”, “oval” or “round”, this shape is narrower in the upper body and the hips and wider in the size. Apple body types tend to store the weight around the median section, but they can always have a healthy size.

Pear

Also known as a triangle or spoon shape, someone with a pear shape has smaller shoulders and busts and more complete buttocks and hips.

“Pear forms tend to store fat … Around hips and thighs, which is less metabolically harmful” than storing it around the waist, “says Alexander. But that does not mean that someone with a pear body shape is intrinsically healthier.

Hourglass

Women with a hourglass form have a fairly uniform width for their shoulders and hips and a smaller size. They tend to gain more weight in their arms, bust, hips and thighs. Some women can be a upper hourglass or a lower hourglass if they have a slightly larger measurement in the bust or hips while having a narrow size.

Reverse triangle

The shape of the inverted triangle carries weight in the upper body and the bust, with less weight in the stomach and the hips.

Women who have this form can be subject to back pain in big breasts and be good candidates for breast reduction surgery.

Exercises to strengthen the arms and back can also be particularly useful for this body shape.

Rectangle or rule

Women in the shape of a sovereign have similar measurements in the upper body, size and hips, creating a further silhouette. Although women with this type of body can have fewer curves, they can always be subject to visceral fat.

Diamond

Women with a narrow bust, a more complete size and a weight in hips and upper legs have what some call a “diamond” body shape. It is similar to the shape of the “apple” body, but diamonds tend to gain weight more in the upper body and in the median section, while apples tend to gain weight almost entirely in the median section.

Can you change the shape of your body?

Your body shape is your reference base and due to genetics, and it does not change, says Stanford. So, “even if you lose weight, you are still this form.”

That said, women of all body forms can gain more weight around waist as they age and penetrate in perimenopause, even if they had no weight around size before – for example women having a form of hourglass. If you have won visceral fats as you have aged, you can probably lose part of this fat thanks to lifestyle changes.

How to keep a healthy body shape

Again, a healthy body is not necessarily due to its form, and “health interventions, such as improving the quality of food, physical activity or sleep, are beneficial for all world, whatever the type or size of the body, ”says Alexander. She recommends following it to all body types:

• Engage in regular physical activityIn particular aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging or bicycle, which are effective in reducing visceral fats.
• Eat a balanced diet This emphasizes whole nutrient foods, such as vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and healthy fats, while minimizing ultra -development food and added sugars.
• Manage stressAs high stress levels can increase cortisol, a hormone associated with the accumulation of abdominal fats.
• ProcrastinateBecause poor sleep is linked to higher levels of visceral fat.

These changes can improve metabolic health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases, even if a person’s body shape remains unchanged, says Alexander.