mesomorphs

Naturally muscular body types

Mesomorphs are people with a naturally muscular, athletic body type—broad shoulders, narrow waist, and a frame that builds muscle easily.

The term comes from a mid-20th-century classification system that divided physiques into three categories: ectomorphs (thin), mesomorphs (muscular), and endomorphs (heavy).

Though the underlying personality theory has been discredited, the body-type terms persist in fitness culture: Mesomorphs tend to respond quickly to strength training.

physiology

somatotype

Bodily build classification

body typePhysical build category
musculatureArrangement of muscles
skeletal frameBones forming body's structure

bone structure · metabolism · genetics · William Sheldon · constitution · phenotype · anthropometry · body composition · lean mass · muscle fiber

aesthetics

broad shoulders

Wide upper back area

narrow waistConstricted body between chest and hips
symmetryInvariance under transformation
proportionComparative relation of parts

fitness modeling · vascularity · muscle tone · body sculpting · ideal proportions · Greek statue · Adonis · golden ratio · stage presence · posing

fitness

muscle building

Developing physical strength

strength trainingBuilding muscle through resistance
weightliftingSport of hoisting barbells
bodybuildingMuscle enlargement for appearance

athletic performance · hypertrophy · gains · bulk · definition · power · sprinting · gymnastics · wrestling · football

Opposites

somatotype/body type classification

mesomorphsectomorphs

Lean-bodied physique category

endomorphs · ectomorph · endomorph

physical build characteristics

mesomorphsbeanpoles

Tall, thin individuals

string beans · skin and bones · soft bodies · waifs

Family

mesomorphic, mesomorph

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G