In the 1940s, William Sheldon, a professor at the University of Houston, invented the concept that all humans belong to one of three body types, or somatotypes.
It was bold. It was revolutionary. It was completely absurd.
The whole notion of three sizes for everyone The classification system has never been supported by science. In fact, it has been completely abandoned almost since its introduction. But that did little to slow the flow of misinformation, which Sheldon based largely on his personal observations.
Just in case you forgot or luckily didn’t know about this classic junk science, a quick review may be in order.
What are the 3 different body types?
Like many of us, chances are you learned about the three somatotypes in a junior high health class. And, on the surface, they probably seemed pretty reasonable.
Ectomorph
Ectomorphs are described as long and thin, with a thin waist and little body fat or muscle mass. Gaining weight can be difficult, but losing weight is relatively easy. Imagine Zoe Saldana or Bruce Lee.
Endomorph
According to Sheldon, endomorphs contain abundant stores of body fat and muscle, which makes gaining weight easy and, therefore, losing weight more difficult. Here, think of Serena Williams or Chris Pratt (circa Parks and Recreation).
Mesomorph
Mesomorphs are characterized as athletic, strong, and strong – day walkers between the other two somatotypes. Let’s go with Mark Wahlberg or Alex Morgan.
Are body types real?
Once again, Sheldon’s somatotypes are inaccurate and oversimplify the human body.
“Few people fit neatly into one of the classic body types,” says Trevor Thieme, CSCS. “Most people are a hodgepodge. For example, you might have the upper body of a “mesomorph” and the lower body of an “ectomorph.” But being able to categorize your body type doesn’t really matter, because it won’t necessarily tell you what makes: how your body is respond to training.”
So why is this fitness myth difficult to get rid of?
“I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that most people want a simple solution when it comes to fitness and fat loss,” says Thieme. “And the idea that if you have body type X, you should focus on exercise type Y provides that.”
But such thinking goes backwards, Thieme says. “You must start with your goalbecause it will shape your workout routine, regardless of your “body type.”
Can you change your body shape?
Somatotype does not predict training response, which means there is a lot you can do to change your body composition. And starting with your goal (e.g., getting more muscular) and then working backward to determine your optimal training plan is actually quite liberating.
This means that if you are a classic ectomorph, you don’t have to prioritize distance running. iron pumping. And if you’re an endomorph, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t train for a marathon if it’s on your to-do list.
The key point here is that you will never know what you are capable of until you try it. But it’s important to know what is and isn’t within your control.
The role of genetics
To be clear, just because somatotypes don’t predict performance doesn’t mean the training ground is level. Whatever your goal or the path you take to get there, chances are you’ll meet others who are traveling it faster or slower than you, because what’s written in your DNA is always important .
“There are many factors that we can manipulate to our advantage depending on the goals: training frequency, training intensity, exercises to prioritize, scheduling. periodizationnutritional factors – but it’s also important to understand that some people have chosen the right parents,” explains Tony GentilcoreCSCS, owner of CORE, its training studio in Brookline, Massachusetts.
“Some people just look at a dumbbell and grow. Some people have to fight tooth and nail and practice a lot in order to see the fruits of their labor,” he adds.
The most important factors in choosing a workout
And this is the case regardless of your ultimate goal. “But ultimately, what will ‘work’ is whatever you actually enjoy doing and stick to consistently,” says Gentilcore.
So tailor your training to your goals, training preferences, time constraints, and strengths and weaknesses, advises Thieme. “Your workout plan should be personalized to you as an individual, not based on a body type category that wasn’t even created with exercise in mind.”
The history of somatotypes
Sheldon didn’t even list body types for fitness purposes. He was a psychologist who postulated that it was possible to attach personality features to every body type. He was more interested in how our bodies could shape our character than how they actually worked.
Sheldon theorized that ectomorphs are introverted, artistic, and emotionally intense. Endomorphs are happy, relaxed and sociable. Mesomorphs are assertive, adventurous and competitive.
If that sounds like poppyseed, slander, or any other 1940s word for bull effluvium, it is: Sheldon’s entire motivation for his study has been completely debunked.
“Sheldon’s toxic eugenics views and equation of physique with destiny in the years after World War II made him increasingly unpopular,” according to a 2015 article in the Canadian Bulletin of Medical History. “The death knell for his career was sounded by his former assistant, Barbara Honeyman Heath. Publicly denouncing her methods as fraudulent and her somatotypes inaccurate, she went on to build a successful career modifying somatotyping techniques and participating in projects around the world.
Why does the body type myth persist?
You’d think that with this kind of outright crackdown from medical and fitness establishments, Sheldon’s idea of three main body types would have gone the way of the Segway, the Zune, New Coke, and the Cheetos Lip Balm (yes, it was a real product).
But the somatotype myth is surprisingly strong, as any quick Google search will tell you. To cite just one example among many, that of London Daily Mail The newspaper claimed: “Scientists say we all fall into three groups (and knowing our shape is key to choosing the right workout). »
The three body types theory attracted so much attention so quickly that it quickly passed more or less into conventional wisdom, where it has remained ever since. Just like the zodiac, somatotyping works because almost everyone can find their characteristics in almost any “personalized” designation.
Sorry if we just ruined astrology for you too.
