Conversations about somatotypes (the scientific term for human body types) often revolve around the concept that individuals can be neatly classified into three distinct body types—ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph. The belief is that somatotyping can provide general guidelines on how a person should approach exercise, nutrition, lifestyle change and physical activity. However, the truth is that a person’s somatotype characteristics can evolve over time, and many individuals embody a mix of all three somatotypes.
To clarify, the three somatotypes—ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph—have been described in scientific literature, but placing a person into a specific category is more complex than it seems. Transitioning from somatotyping to offering exercise recommendations and dietary advice often results in the spread of misinformation, contributing to the creation or proliferation of myths that become “common knowledge” over time.
