Deepti Khatuja, Senior Clinical Nutritionist, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon explains, “People are born with an inherited body type based on the skeletal structure and body composition. Most people are unique combinations of all three metabolic body types: ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph.”
Dietitian, nutritionist, diabetes educator, and wellness platform founder Shivani Kandwal defines these metabolic types as follows:
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endomorphs: Those with a softer, rounder body type or what can be defined as a short stocky shape. Consider yourself an endomorph if you build muscle and/or fat easily but struggle to shed fat. Endomorphs have a slow metabolism, so gaining weight is easy for them (most of it is fat, not muscle).
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Ectomorphs: Those with a smaller frame and have a more compact bone structure. They are skinny and skinny by nature, and find it difficult to put on weight. They have a fast metabolism, which allows them to burn calories faster than people with slower metabolisms. Ectomorphs require a high calorie intake to gain weight.
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Mesomorphs: Also known as athlete’s body, this refers to those with a rectangular shaped body with a muscular build. This body type is more prone to weight gain than the ectomorph, so keep your caloric intake in check. Compared to endomorphs, they also find it easier to lose weight.
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