Body type
Body type denotes a somatic constitution type .
In a narrower sense one means one of the three somatotypes according to the typology of William Sheldon : ectomorph , mesomorph or endomorph . Sheldon postulated a division of man according to the cotyledonous tissues of the embryo ; these cotyledonous tissues contribute to the body mass of individuals to varying degrees and thus determine the type. This idea is medically refuted today. The concept appears today almost exclusively in the fitness area to create a training program that is adapted to the body type. The terms and all the more the theory behind them are more than questionable from today's perspective; they are not scientifically relevant.
In human biology, however, the body types are used to describe the individual morphological-anatomical structure of a person. The type is determined by measuring the width of the large joints (e.g. knees) and using a formula.
Somatotype
Ectomorph
- Ectomorph - tendency to slimness (also leptosome)
It is characterized by a short torso, long arms and legs, narrow feet and hands and very little fat storage. A rather small rib cage and narrow shoulders, mostly long, thin muscles, can be seen. The hair is thin and not dense. Ectomorph / leptosome people are usually tall; but there is also the possibility of small body size with ectomorphism.
Mesomorph
- Mesomorph - tendency to muscularity (also metromorphic)
A powerful chest, firm and thick hair, a V-shaped body (hourglass shape for women), thick skin, prominent cheekbones and a massive lower jaw, a long and wide face, fat deposits generally only on the abdomen and hips, large hands and feet , long upper body, strong muscles and great physical strength. Mesomorphism can be divided into athletic and normal forms.
Endomorph
- Endomorph - tendency to obesity (also pycnomorphic)
Soft muscles, short arms and legs, a round face, a short neck, smooth and soft skin, broad hips, strong fat storage and lots of thin hair can be recognized. Going back to the philosopher Georg Hegel , this type of constitution is also known in southern Germany under the term beer-host physiognomy. Endomorphs are often described as short and obese; but there are also tall ones with an endomorphic body type.
Mixed type
Hardly anyone is a completely pure type; rather, most people have characteristics of all three types. There are around eighty subgroups in the Sheldon typology. Fat accumulation, muscle building and skeletal structure are closely correlated. An endo-mesomorphic type would be a basically muscular, athletic type who tends to accumulate too much fat.
history
Similar to the psychiatrist Ernst Kretschmer , Sheldon saw connections between body structure and other physical and psychological properties. For Kretschmer's constitutional typology, see constitutional type .
In contrast to this, however, Sheldon carried out a series of tests with 4,000 students in 1940, using a method he called somatotyping . The development of the physical constitution is traced back to three germ layers, each of which can be differently pronounced.
The three cotyledons, endomorphic, mesomorphic, ectomorphic, each have their own dimensions. The expression of the physical characteristics is shown in each dimension on a scale from 1 to 7. This results in a dominance in one area, the sum of the three dimensions is usually between 9 and 12. A person with ectomorph (2), mesomorph (6), endomorph (5) is therefore an endomesomorphic type with 265 . Since not all values can be assumed equally on all scales, Sheldon has 76 classes with three-digit codes.
One of the main points of criticism of Sheldon's work is the method of classification - with Sheldon there is no measurement in the narrower sense, but above all a standardized form of physique photography, which is then assessed in a second step. This assessment is naturally subjective and primarily evaluates relative differences in the observed bodies. Sheldon himself proposed an improved method in 1969 (trunk index method), which, however, could not solve the problem of subjectivity.
In addition, a genotypic disposition of the somatotype is generally assumed (called morphogenotype by Sheldon), but the relation to the phenotype remains unclear. Sheldon himself is primarily interested in the relationship between body type and psychological properties such as a person's temperament . This no longer plays a role in today's sports medicine. Sheldon also saw the morphological results closely related to the cotyledons of physical development. The endomorph focuses on the digestive system, the mesomorph on the musculoskeletal system, and the ectomorph on the skin and nervous system.
The technique of somatypology was later picked up and refined by others. In Parnell's (1954, 1958) method, the categories F (fat, fat, also endomorphism), M (muscularity, muscle mass, also mesomorphism) and L (linearity, smoothness, also ectomorphism) are determined by direct body measurements, including skin fold thickness measurements, Bone widths and determination of the body mass index (BMI) . Together with age-correcting scales, a mapping on the 7-step scale division of Sheldon's somatypes is achieved, which remains largely constant over time.
The most common form of somatotype determination today goes back to Heart and Carter A Modified Somatype Method from 1967, which also takes up the anthropometric suggestions and terms introduced by Parnell. In addition to standardized somatotype photographs to determine distribution coefficients, ten measured values are included in the assessment: height, weight, skin thickness measurement at four points, two measurements of the circumference of the extremities and two measurements of bone width. Using a developed form, a somatotype index can easily be calculated from this, the index values of which are derived from mathematical formulas.
application
The assessment of body type is particularly used in sports medicine to create an adapted training program.
Ectomorph
For a strongly ectomorphic type, the focus is on weight gain, if possible in the form of muscle mass. An ectomorphic type does not initially have the strength or stamina for excessively long and heavy workouts, and will find that muscle growth is slow.
A lot of strength training should be planned as a training program , if possible with longer breaks between training units so that the body can adapt to the load. Aerobic outdoor activities such as running and swimming like ectomorphic types, but if they are too frequent or too intense, this can hinder muscle building.
In the nutritional program it is important to pay attention to an increased intake of nutritional energy and possibly to supplement the diet with weight gain and protein drinks.
Mesomorph
The clearly mesomorphic type develops muscle mass easily and quickly. There is a tendency to strongly uneven development up to disproportionation. The focus here must be on compensation in order to avoid irregularities.
The training program should contain a variety of exercises and be as varied as possible from the actual training focus. A mesomorphic type can tolerate long training units with short breaks, but should couple the actual training with complementary types.
A balanced diet is sufficient in the nutritional program, possibly with a higher protein content.
Endomorph
The endomorphic type develops physically well and evenly, but also quickly builds up fat as ballast. The focus here is on fat loss.
The training program should include aerobic training, i.e. cycling, running and other sports with high energy expenditure. This training is naturally the hardest for the endomorph. The training itself should be slow and extensive rather than particularly intense.
Diets that should be as balanced as possible are always popular in the nutritional program. If possible, no food combining , but rather all protein , fat / s and carbohydrates , possibly supplemented with vitamin and mineral supplements. This body type also responds well to low-carb (diet changes to fewer carbohydrates).
literature
- Arnold Schwarzenegger , Bill Dobbins: The Great Bodybuilding Book . Heyne, Munich 1986, ISBN 3-453-37102-X (American English: Encyclopedia of modern bodybuilding . Translated by Edith H. Aulich).
- William Herbert Sheldon, Stanley Smith Stevens, William Boose Tucker: The Varieties of human physique - an introduction to constitutional psychology . Harper, New York 1940.
- Rainer Fiesel: Somatotypic and sport motor development processes of boys aged 6-16 years under the influence of three years of swimming and water polo training . Dortmund 2000, DNB 958799407 ( Online [PDF; 2.8 MB ; accessed on November 8, 2011] Hochschulschrift, Diss., Universität Dortmund, 2000).
Web links
- Overview of figure types for women , last accessed on November 8, 2011
