Are there different body frames

If you are female, your frame size will depend upon both your wrist measurement and your height. Measure your elbow breadth. Extend your arm outward with your palm up. Bend the arm at the elbow to a degree angle. Use your thumb and forefinger to grasp the bones at the elbow.

Measure the gap between the thumb and index finger to determine your elbow breadth. Elbow breadth is considered a more accurate measurement of frame size, according to the IdealBodyWeightChart.

For example, stress can trigger your body to release the hormone cortisol. Research suggests that stress-induced cortisol may be tied to fat buildup around your most vital organs in your mid-section.

Estrogen and progesterone, released by sexual organs, can also affect how your body stores fat. Estrogen, for example, can lead your body to store fat in your lower abdomen. Older adults tend to have higher levels of body fat overall. Two contributing factors include a slowing metabolism and gradual loss of muscle tissue. Aging can also affect mobility, resulting in a more sedentary lifestyle. This could lead to weight gain. Aging can even affect your height.

Many people find that they gradually become shorter after age This can affect how your body looks overall. According to a review , menopause may also change your body shape and fat distribution by redistributing more weight to your abdomen. If you want to change certain things about yourself — for you and because you want to — exercise could make a difference.

For example, you might be able to give your arms more muscle definition with regular training. Research has also found that genetic factors can affect your resting metabolic rate. If you have any concerns about your body — including how it feels or the way it moves — talk to a doctor or other healthcare provider.

Simone M. If you are unsure, assume you have a medium frame size. Most individuals exhibit characteristics of two or even all three somatotypes. Diet and physical activity can result in someone changing their classification over time. Relying on weight as a factor for assessing body type is also flawed on numerous levels. It can change throughout the day, and can be affected by medication, injuries, depression, or other health issues.

Quite often a person will be underweight at the point their body has stopped growing. The early twenties can be a stressful time due to the adjustments of college. Also, it can be a time of intense social activities that distract a person from a regular eating routine.

A significant number of people in their thirties and forties choose a life style of healthy dieting and regular exercise. These individuals are not going to show the usual weight increase that comes with middle age.

Instead they level off at a weight you would normally see in their late twenties. Some people have to work harder than others to gain muscle or lose body fat. Regardless of your body type, with a solid training program and nutrition plan in place, you can actually change your health status as well as your body composition. The gist is that everyone falls, though not altogether neatly, into the three categories below.

Keep in mind that these are generalizations, and that most of us have characteristics of two or even all three somatotypes. Ectomorphs are long and lean, with little body fat, and little muscle. They have a hard time gaining weight.