You may be familiar with some of the common terms used to describe body shape such as hourglass, apple, or pear. Knowing and embracing your body shape can be helpful in many aspects of your everyday life. You’ll be able to choose clothes that draw attention to your assets while camouflaging your flaws, providing you with a figure-flattering look. Knowing your body shape and what your problem areas are, can help you cater your diet and exercise routine to target them.
Step 1
Learn the different classifications for body shapes. Women generally fall under the categories of apple, pear/spoon, hourglass, or ruler. Men are generally classified as being apple, ruler/rectangular, or triangle-shaped.
Step 2
Take your clothes off and stand in front of a full length mirror. Look closely at your body and try to determine what shape your body resembles.
Step 3
Measure the circumference of your body parts in inches using a tape measure. Measure your chest by wrapping the tape measure across the middle of your breasts or chest and around the circumference of your back; exhale before the measurement is recorded. Wrap the tape measure one inch above your belly button to measure your waist. Measure your hips by wrapping the tape measure around the widest point of your hips above your buttocks.
Step 4
Determine if you’re apple-shaped or have an hourglass shape. Apple-shaped people have a larger waist measurement in comparison to their chest and hips. You’re an hourglass shape when your bust and hips measure approximately the same, and you have a well-defined waist. An hourglass shape also carries weight equally in both the upper and lower body.
Step 5
Check to see if you’re ruler/rectangle or triangle-shaped. Ruler-shaped individuals have almost no waist definition and their chest, waist and hip measurements have little variation. You’re classified as having a triangle shape if your chest and waist measurements are roughly the same, and your waist measurement is a few inches less.
Step 6
Find out if you’re spoon /pear shaped. Having a slender upper body and carrying more weight in your hips, buttocks and thigh regions is a trait of the pear/spoon body shape. Pear/spoon-shaped individuals have a well-defined waist. There is a large difference in the measurements between the bust and hips, while the chest and waist measurements are almost equal.
Things You'll Need
- Full-length mirror
- Tape measure
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