Ectomorphs are a thin body type with small shoulders, long limbs, and a fast metabolism. They may have a hard time gaining weight and building muscle. Sheldon’s body type theory includes personality characteristics, with ectomorphs being seen as nervous and introverted.
An ectomorph is a thin body type identified by American psychologist William Sheldon, in his book, The Atlas of Men, first published in 1954. According to Sheldon, ectomorphs are not only thin, but have a certain fragility. The ectomorph is said to have small shoulders and some muscle, but not enough muscle to have much definition in the body shape. Ectomorphs tend to have long limbs and a straight, narrow body.
The ectomorph generally has little definition between its waist and hip areas. Although it is possible for ectomorphs to gain muscle through exercise, it may take longer than it would for a naturally muscular body type. Ectomorphs generally have fast metabolisms, which means they process energy from food quickly before it turns into excess fat. One problem with this feature may be that very skinny ectomorphs who need to gain weight to become healthier and less frail may have a hard time doing so.
The other two body types in Sheldon’s theory are the mesomorph and the endomorph. Endomorphs are the opposite of ectomorphs; they have naturally fuller bodies and tend to have short limbs. Endomorphs gain weight easily and have a harder time losing extra pounds than the other two body types. Mesomorphs gain muscle much more easily than endomorphs or ectomorphs. While the mesomorph generally has a high fat-burning metabolism, they will gain weight more easily than the ectomorph.
Ectomorphs need to make sure they get enough calories each day to avoid getting too thin and weak. In addition to having longer limbs than the other two body types, ectomorphs are said to have lighter bones and a fragile skeletal system. An ectomorph is generally tall and has a flatter chest than the endomorph and mesomorph.
Even if ectomorphs are not tall, they tend to look that way due to their thin appearance. Hunched shoulders, as well as narrow, are attributes of the ectomorph body type. They typically have the narrowest hips of all body types.
Sheldon’s body type theory includes personality characteristics. He sees the ectomorph as the type most likely to be nervous, artistic, sensitive, and introverted. Mesomorphs are depicted as adventurous and risk-taking in Sheldon’s theory, while endomorphs are said to be sociable and laid-back. There are many people who disagree with Sheldon’s personality attributes for each body type, although they may agree with his physical analysis of his endomorph, ectomorph, and mesomorph types.
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