Each of us has different and unique body shapes. Our body shapes are what make us very special. If you think that yours defines just your appearance and how you look in your outfits, then you are probably wrong. In fact, our body shape can have an impact on many aspects of our health and overall well-being. Bodies come in different shapes and sizes and they are all beautiful. Whether you are a pear, apple, or an hour-glass, your body shape can tell us a lot about your health. If you are wondering, here’s how your body shape can affect your health.

What are the Different Body Shapes?

First, let’s go through the different body shapes. Based on the overall fat distribution in your body, most people fall into these common body shape types:

• Apple: If you have an “apple-shaped” body, then the body tends to look round, with your weight accumulating around your hips and abdomen. Apple-shaped bodies mean that your shoulders and bust are larger than your hips.
• Pear: If you have a pear-shaped body, your shoulders and bust are most likely narrower than your hips. Pear-shaped individuals store excess fat in their lower body, such as the hips, thighs, and buttock areas, and probably have slim arms and waist.
• Hourglass: The hourglass shape is a more common body type for men. Men and women with this body shape tend to carry extra weight all over their bodies, with body fat evenly distributed in the upper and lower body.
• Inverted Triangle: This body shape has a larger bust and broad shoulders. As for the hip area, it is usually narrower.

There are more body types other than the ones listed above, however, those are the most common ones. You can also know what your body shape is by recognizing your hip type. There are usually two hip types that everyone falls in between, which are either curved or straight hips. If you have curved hips, then you are either hourglass or pear-shaped. On the other hand, if you have straight hips, your body shape will fall between an inverted triangle or an apple shape. Knowing your hip-type and body shape will help you understand the needs of your body and the health risks associated with it. This way, you will be able to maintain a lifestyle that matches your body shape and its requirements.

What Your Body Shape Says About Your Health?

Apple:

For both males and females, having an apple-shaped body means that you are maintaining an imbalanced lifestyle with a poor diet, high-stress levels, and little physical activity. In men, particularly, this body shape is commonly called a “beer belly”, which is linked to high alcohol consumption with more fat stored around the stomach area. This body shape has an increased risk of suffering from elevated blood pressures, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. If you are apple-shaped, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to decrease your risks of contracting diseases and the health risks associated with this body-type. Weight training, cardio workouts, and maintaining a healthy diet are highly recommended.

Pear:

Pear-shaped body types are considered to be healthier than apple-shaped individuals. This is due to the fact that the fat accumulated in the lower body parts is less likely to spread to other areas in the body- meaning less risk of heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. However, pear-shaped people need to be careful of knee and joint diseases as well as osteoporosis. Moreover, women who are pear-shaped are more likely to have higher estrogen levels, and therefore are more likely to develop breast cancer. It is recommended for women with that body type to conduct frequent examinations.

Hourglass:

People with an hourglass body shape do not have their fats concentrated in one area. This means that people with this body-shape type tend to gain weight evenly throughout their bodies. However, as with other body shapes, you should maintain a healthy diet and avoid processed foods and caffeine. Moreover, they should embrace healthy fats from food such as salmon, avocados, olive oil, nuts, etc.

Inverted Triangle:

In general, an inverted-triangle is a healthy body-type to have. It is believed that this body shape has high metabolism due to their active adrenal glands and are usually slim.  However, having an inverted triangle body shape means that if you put on weight, you are much more vulnerable to risks of heart diseases and become at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.

Now that you have identified your body shape, you can now become more in control of your health. Whatever your body shape is, it is important that you maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep an eye on your overall health. So whether you have an inverted-triangle or an apple-body shape, the key is to stay active and always healthy!