Body Type Quiz: Are You An Endomorph, Ectomorph, Or Mesomorph?

Nutrition & FitnessFitnessExercise ScienceShare this articleShareShare on FacebookShare on XShare on PinterestCopy LinkDo You Know Your Body Type?ByPhil Catudal and Stacey ColinoUpdated on November 15, 2023Medically Reviewed byJustin Laube, MDON THIS PAGE

• The Questions
• Identifying Your Body Type
• What Your Body Type Means

ON THIS PAGE

• The Questions
• Identifying Your Body Type
• What Your Body Type Means

Excerpted from Just Your Type: The Ultimate Guide to Eating and Training Right for Your Body Type by Phil Catudal, with Stacey Colino. Copyright © 2019. Available from Hachette Books, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

If you’re like many people, you might answer the question “what’s your body type?” with a response like “hot,” “weak,” “strong,” “flabby,” “curvy,” or another adjective based on your subjective judgments of yourself. But there are ways to figure out what your natural-born body type is, objectively speaking.

These objective body types are based on the concept of somatotypes, which were developed in the 1940s to correlate body types with physical strengths and weaknesses, personality characteristics, and behavior. Subsequent evidence suggests personality has little to do with it. But there is research suggesting differences in physiques, hormonal responses, and physical performances in the original somatotype profiles hold true. And there is solid science behind using somatotyping for fitness and athletic training to enhance performance.

Can You Change Your Body Type?

Ballet has become a popular workout routine in cities around the country, with average people trying to achieve ballerina bodies. But can just anybody change their body type?

Next up video playing in 10 seconds

To get a precise assessment of whether you’re an ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph, or a combination type, you could go to a lab and have your body fat, bone, and muscle mass measured. You can also gauge your body type right now by taking this quiz.

Read each of the following questions or statements thoroughly and (honestly!) choose the option that best describes you. If you’re not sure which of two responses applies to you, trust your instincts or choose both — you’ll see why later.

The Questions

1. From an objective point of view, which of the following factors seems most prominent (or dominant) on your body when you look in the mirror?

A. Bone

B. Muscle

C. Body fat

2. How do your shoulders compare to your hips?

A. My shoulders are narrower than my hips.

B. They’re approximately the same width as my hips.

C. My shoulders are wider than my hips.

3. Which of the following objects best describes your body shape?

A. A pencil

B. An hourglass

C. A pear

4. If you encircle one wrist with your other hand’s middle finger and thumb, what happens?

A. My middle finger and thumb overlap a bit.

B. My middle finger and thumb touch, but just barely.

C. There’s a gap between my middle finger and thumb.

5. When it comes to your weight, which of the following patterns best describes your history?

A. I have trouble gaining muscle or body fat.

B. I can gain and lose weight without too much difficulty.

C. I gain weight easily but have a hard time losing it.

6. Think about what your body looked like, before you corrupted it with poor dietary and exercise habits, once you reached your full height as a teenager or young adult. How did you look?

A. I looked long and lanky.

B. I looked strong and compact.

C. I looked soft and full bodied.

7. If you’d been exercising regularly and you were to take a break for a few months, what would happen to your body?

A. I would lose muscle and strength quickly.

B. My body wouldn’t change that much.

C. My body would soften up significantly and I might even gain weight.

8. Put on a pair of form-fitting jeans — where on your body do they get extra clingy or even stuck?

A. They don’t. In fact, I can’t keep them up without a belt.

B. With a bit of work, I can wriggle my way into them over my muscular thighs.

C. They get caught on my butt or belly.

9. When you have a serious carb-fest (think: heaping plate of pasta or multiple slices of pizza), how do you feel afterward?

A. The same as I usually do — normal, really.

B. I generally feel good, though I notice my ab muscles are extra hard or my belly feels full.

C. More often than not, I feel tired or bloated for a few hours after the meal.

10. How would you describe your body’s bone structure?

A. I have a small frame.

B. I have a medium frame.

C. I have a relatively large frame.

 

How to Figure Out Your Body Type

Add up the number of times you answered A, B, or C. If you chose mostly A's, you’re an ectomorph; mostly B's, you’re a mesomorph; mostly C's, you’re an endomorph.

If your responses were divided fairly equally — as in 5 and 5 or even 6 and 4 — between two different letters, you likely have a hybrid body type. To be specific, if your responses were split between A's and B's, you’re an ecto-mesomorph; if they’re spread between B's and C's, you’re a meso-endomorph; and if you found your responses in a 50-50 or 60-40 split between A's and C's, you’re an ecto-endomorph.

If you end up with a 7–3 division between two different types, it may mean that you’ve strayed off course from your true type with poor dietary choices, in which case the hybrid approach to diet and exercise will steer you back on the right track.

 

Here’s What Your Body Type Says About You

Ectomorphs

Generally thin and lean, ectomorphs tend to have slender waists, narrow hips and shoulders, small joints, and long legs and arms. They tend to be slim, without much body fat or noticeable muscle mass. Because they have fast metabolisms, they burn calories quickly, so ectomorphs may find themselves hungry frequently throughout the day; yet, regardless of what, how often, or how much they eat, they don’t gain weight or muscle easily.

Mesomorphs

Naturally muscular, mesomorphs typically have moderate-size frames, with wider shoulders and a narrow waist, strong arms and legs, and modest amounts of body fat. They are genetically predisposed to build muscle, so mesomorphs often require a slightly higher calorie intake (since muscle requires more calories to maintain it) and more protein than the other types do (again, for muscle maintenance). Generally, mesomorphs are able to lose or gain weight easily.

Endomorphs

Because they have a medium-to-large bone structure and more body fat than the other types, women who are endomorphs are often described as curvaceous or full-figured, while endomorphic men might be considered stocky, doughy, or round. Endomorphs usually have narrow shoulders and wider hips, and carry any excess weight in the lower abdomen, hips, and thighs. It’s often challenging for them to lose weight but with the right diet and training approach, it can be done.

Ecto-Mesomorphs

These hybrids are increasingly common, especially in the athletic world, where this physique is prized for being aesthetically appealing. In fact, for men and women alike, ecto-mesomorphs tend to have the “fitness model” look. Often muscular with V-shaped torsos (think: wide upper back, developed chest and shoulders, narrow waist), ecto-mesomorphs are lean and agile, with strong-looking (but not bulky) arms and legs.

Meso-Endomorphs

Including variations where people have more predominantly mesomorphic or endomorphic qualities (rather than a truly even split), this is the most common hybrid, according to research. Many bodybuilders and contact sports athletes (like football players) have this body type. Characterized by thick arms and legs and a boxy chest and mid-section, this type looks powerful but it isn’t chiseled. (This may be partly because people with this body type tend to retain water and a layer of fat on top of their muscles.)

People with this kind of build who want to get a leaner physique should be prepared to take a more refined approach to resistance training, cardio workouts, and diet, so they can prioritize fat loss.

Ecto-Endomorphs

Usually, this is a behaviorally acquired body type — basically, someone who is really an ectomorph has added significant body fat, whether it’s from poor eating habits, sedentary ways, or a combo of these less-than-stellar habits.

With long limbs and a smaller bone structure, ecto-endomorphs often have soft midsections, droopy chests, and flabby upper arms and legs from sheer neglect. To improve fitness, body composition, and health, the most efficient plan for this type involves resistance training and high-intensity cardio, both of which promote muscle growth and stimulate metabolism.

Since ecto-endomorphs may have developed some insulin resistance, their bodies may not be as efficient at burning carbohydrates, so they should follow a dietary plan that’s suited to endomorphs — with a slightly higher protein intake, a medium fat intake, and lower carb levels — until the excess body fat comes off and metabolic function is optimized; then, these hybrid types can switch to more of an ectomorph approach (adding in more carbs).

Meet Our ExpertsSee Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network

Justin Laube, MD

Medical Reviewer

Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, and trauma healing.

He graduated with a bachelor's in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He completed his three-year residency training in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles on the primary care track and a two-year fellowship in integrative East-West primary care at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine.

He is currently taking a multiyear personal and professional sabbatical to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, disease, and the processes of healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions. He is working on a book distilling the insights from his sabbatical, teaching, and leading retreats on trauma, integrative health, mindfulness, and well-being for health professionals, students, and the community.

Previously, Dr. Laube was an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he provided primary care and integrative East-West medical consultations. As part of the faculty, he completed a medical education fellowship and received a certificate in innovation in curriculum design and evaluation. He was the fellowship director at the Center for East-West Medicine and led courses for physician fellows, residents, and medical students.

See full bio

Phil Catudal and Stacey Colino

Author

See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network

Sign up for our Healthy Living Newsletter!Enter your emailSubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. RELATED ARTICLESSee all in Exercise ScienceEctomorph Diet: Food List, Sample Menu, Benefits, More

Diet TypesEctomorph Diet: Food List, Sample Menu, Benefits, MoreMedically Reviewed by Roxana Ehsani, RD | Oct 09, 2025What Is ‘Cortisol Belly’? How Stress Leads to Abdominal Fat — and How to Reduce It

StressWhat Is ‘Cortisol Belly’? How Stress Leads to Abdominal Fat — and How to Reduce ItMedically Reviewed by Sean Hashmi, MD | Aug 18, 2025Female Bodybuilder Diet

Diet TypesFemale Bodybuilder DietMedically Reviewed by Heather Jeffcoat, PT, DPT | Jul 31, 2025What Is the Mesomorph Diet? A Detailed Beginner’s Guide

Diet TypesWhat Is the Mesomorph Diet? A Detailed Beginner’s GuideMedically Reviewed by Kayli Anderson, RDN | Jul 25, 2025What Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?

Body ImageWhat Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?Medically Reviewed by Angela D. Harper, MD | Mar 12, 2025Endomorph Diet 101: Food List, Sample Menu, Benefits, More

Diet TypesEndomorph Diet 101: Food List, Sample Menu, Benefits, MoreMedically Reviewed by Roxana Ehsani, RD | Feb 04, 2025Regular Exercise Can Lead to ‘Healthier’ Belly Fat

Weight & FoodRegular Exercise Can Lead to ‘Healthier’ Belly FatPublished on Sep 11, 20247 Phrases You May Be Using That Put Other People’s Bodies Down

Body Image7 Phrases You May Be Using That Put Other People’s Bodies DownMedically Reviewed by Allison Young, MD | Sep 10, 2024Body Type Diet 101: The Ultimate Guide

Diet TypesBody Type Diet 101: The Ultimate GuideMedically Reviewed by Reyna Franco, RDN | Mar 13, 2024Men Can Struggle With Body Image, Too. Here’s Why — and How to Cope

Body ImageMen Can Struggle With Body Image, Too. Here’s Why — and How to CopeMedically Reviewed by Seth Gillihan, PhD | Feb 12, 20246 Ways to Have a Healthier Body Image

Body Image6 Ways to Have a Healthier Body ImageMedically Reviewed by Seth Gillihan, PhD | Feb 05, 2024All About Body Image: How Psychologists Define It and How It Affects Health and Well-Being

Body ImageAll About Body Image: How Psychologists Define It and How It Affects Health and Well-BeingMedically Reviewed by Seth Gillihan, PhD | Jan 30, 2024Yes, What You Think About How You Look Affects Your Health and Well-Being

Body ImageYes, What You Think About How You Look Affects Your Health and Well-BeingMedically Reviewed by Seth Gillihan, PhD | Jan 29, 2024Speaking Body Image: A Glossary of Terms We Use to Describe How We See Our Bodies

Body ImageSpeaking Body Image: A Glossary of Terms We Use to Describe How We See Our BodiesMedically Reviewed by Seth Gillihan, PhD | Dec 26, 2023Body Dysmorphia Continues to Be a Serious Issue Among Gay Men

Body ImageBody Dysmorphia Continues to Be a Serious Issue Among Gay MenMedically Reviewed by Allison Young, MD | Jun 26, 2023Calorie Counting 101: Does It Work for Weight Loss, How Safe Is It, and the Best Way to Do It

Weight & FoodCalorie Counting 101: Does It Work for Weight Loss, How Safe Is It, and the Best Way to Do ItMedically Reviewed by Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES | Feb 03, 202317 Celebrities Who’ve Spoken Out About Body Image

Body Image17 Celebrities Who’ve Spoken Out About Body ImageMedically Reviewed by Allison Young, MD | Oct 19, 2022What Is Intuitive Eating?

Diet TypesWhat Is Intuitive Eating?Medically Reviewed by Kayli Anderson, RDN | Aug 08, 2022‘How I Finally Got the Bikini Body I Always Wanted’

Body Image‘How I Finally Got the Bikini Body I Always Wanted’Medically Reviewed by Allison Young, MD | Jul 28, 2022Why Intermittent Fasting May Not Help When You’re Already Cutting Calories

Weight & FoodWhy Intermittent Fasting May Not Help When You’re Already Cutting CaloriesUpdated on Apr 26, 2022