Body Types & Weight Loss

A definitive weight-loss process is difficult to describe, as processes vary for everyone. Unlike the process for changing the oil in your car, there is no definite protocol for losing weight. The best procedure for losing weight is highly correlated with your body type. Once you determine your body type, your can discover an effective diet plan that works best for you.

Expert Insight

Dr. William H. Sheldon is an American psychologist who first pioneered the notion that humans fall into one of three distinct body types: endomorphic, ectomorphic and mesomorphic. Dr. Sheldon connected various personality traits to match every body type, and nutritionists, including Dr. John Berardi, assigned different diets to every body type to help people achieve optimal weight loss and overall general health.

Features: Endomorphs

Dr. Sheldon described the endomorphic type as a pear- or apple-shaped body with a concentration of fat around the waistline. Fitness expert John Hanson reports that endomorphs have a slow metabolism rate, and they can be especially sensitive to carbohydrates. A person with an endomorphic body type can eat low-calorie portions of potatoes, rice, bread or pasta and still store it as fat, so they must do their best to avoid starches. They must train themselves to consume only vegetables and lean proteins, which contain less fat, along with occasional fruits.

Features: Ectomorphs

Dr. Sheldon described the ectomorphic type as a body with an extremely fast metabolism and long limbs. These are the people who can eat entire boxes of cookies along with plates of nachos and hardly gain an ounce. It is thus not a good idea for ectomorphs to try to lose weight, but to instead focus on gaining it. Hansen emphasizes that ectomorphic people must be especially mindful that they eat enough food, particularly proteins and carbohydrates. Ectomorphs must make diligent efforts to build muscles by both eating enough and adhering to strict weight-training regimes.

Features: Mesomorphs

Dr. Sheldon described the mesomorphic type as a highly muscular, square-shaped body. These people don't need visit the gym very often to have toned limbs. Mesomorphs' high muscle mass enables them to burn many calories fairly effortlessly. They do have to be mindful of consuming enough fat, carbohydrates and protein to protect the considerable muscle mass they possess. In fact, Dr. Berardi recommends that two-thirds of a mesomorphic person's diet come from carbohydrates and protein, with the remaining 40 percent derived from fat.

Considerations

Regardless of your body type, it is important that you allow yourself to eat your favorite foods occasionally so that you don't develop strong cravings for them, which can cause you to stray considerably far from your diet plan.