Firstly, to anybody reading who celebrates Easter, Happy Easter.
Body types have been around forever as a way of categorizing people and their nutrition needs but is the concept flawed and do people actually need to eat for a certain type of body? This week we’re going to jump into the history of body types and why I feel they never should’ve been a thing to begin with.
But before that, something I haven’t done in a few weeks is give an update with what I’ve been doing. This week’s update is going right back to the roots of what I meant it to be. Yesterday, me and Jen, along with her daughter and sister, Ali, went and climbed the Sugarloaf in Wicklow on what was probably the nicest day of the year so far, although today looks pretty good so far at time of writing. It’s a pretty handy climb to do for everyone, even the little ones. The views at the top are so good on a clear day. Our Clane gym is doing pretty well the last few weeks as well, now entering it’s 7th week of business we’re already seeing the formation of a training community like we have in Lucan with friendships developing among people who were previously strangers. Finally, I’ve been back running and training fully after having to take some time off with a couple small injuries that were holding me back and preventing me from doing certain things but Tommy Brennan in the Pain and Performance Clinic helped me get back on track and I’m really enjoying my training again.
What Are They
So, Body types. There are 3 different types of body according to this theory, endomorph, ectomorph and mesomorph, each of which require you to eat a different way. It was a way of bypassing calorie counting and giving each body type it’s own portions based on using their hand and fist. While I see some benefit in using the hand as a measure for some people, I don’t agree with using it to fully categorize anybody. I think it’s useful for getting people started off on their nutrition journey, it helps people who have never paid any attention to portion sizes to start becoming more aware of their nutrition. However, the endgame should be to graduate them to calorie counting and get them to have an understanding of calories.
The concept was devised by a 1940s psychologist to group personality types with different body shapes, not a nutritionist or biologist. The theory, which has been debunked by science, claimed that different body shapes also had dominant personality traits. In more modern times, the body types have remained but are now linked to certain diets and are ways for companies to try target certain markets to sell products with false claims.
Flawed Theory
I remember being introduced to the concept of these body types and being seriously confused by the idea. Being told I was one type and I had to eat like that, but I wanted to get to the other type so why shouldn’t I eat like that person? The idea of body typing is a fixed mindset. It’s telling me I’m a definitive type and I can’t change. However, Dr. Carol Dweck has extensive research on mindsets that disprove this fixed mindset, people who were previously thought to be fixed can actually become growth mindset based when given the right opportunity and environment. What does this have to do with body types? If you’re telling me I’m a mesomorph and that’s it, eat like a mesomorph and I’ll be fine, well I’m being given no opportunity for growth. However, if you tell me I’m 74KG, 15% bodyfat and if I eat in a calorie deficit with adequate protein, training and have enough consistency and patience I can get to 10% bodyfat well there’s change right there, and a growth mindset environment has been created.
To lose fat, it doesn’t matter what you look like, eat in a calorie deficit with adequate protein and you’ll lose fat.
To sum up, I don’t agree in any part with different body types and eating for them. In my eyes, you should only be concerned with what your goals are and how you need to eat and train to achieve those goals. Want to increase muscle mass? Eat in a calorie surplus with a progressive training programme. Want to drop fat? Eat in a calorie deficit and keep up your strength training.
The sooner you gain an understanding of calories and the role they play in weight gain and loss you’ll be free from clever marketing scams and bogus product claims.
Have a great Easter guys,
Rory.