Athletes, as well as non-athletes have been categorized into three different body types. The first body type is endomorph, which is the body type that has mostly fat. The next body type is mesomorph, which is the body type composed of mostly muscle. And the third body type is the ectomorph. The ectomorph is the body type that is very thin and bony. Throughout this paper, I will describe and explain each body type, as well as relate these body types to sports in which a person in each category may participate, and offer a few practice suggestions for each type.
The first body type of an athlete is called endomorphy. This athlete has a round head; their abdomen is larger than their upper body and their arms and thighs contain much fat. This person will appear to be pear-shaped with wide hips and shoulders. They are wider from front to back, rather than from side to side (Beashel 1). A big challenge for people with this body type is to overcome physical activities and to reduce overeating. "Endomorphs have large, fleshly bodies, with an attraction to both physical comfort and warm relationships with others" (O"Hanrahan 1). It is important that an athlete with this body type concentrate on aerobic-type exercise in order to maximize fat loss. This gives an added protection to some diseases that are more common in endomorphs, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
It is important to know that endomorphs are more likely to be involved in sports such as baseball, golf, bowling, walking, and also weight-lifting. The world's strongest men and women are not the tone and sculpted body builders, but those with big muscles, inside a large and cushioned frame. Some suggested practices for the endomorph body type would be practicing making personal boundaries, trying to set limits, and discriminating about the person's involvement with other people (O"Hanrahan 1). Another practice suggestion would be "staying awake" and resist the need for physical comfort and relaxation, at least part of the time.