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Comparison of Male Body Types: Lean vs. Bulky

All people have varying body shapes. Men and women differ due to the greater percentage of muscle mass in men and the widening of the hips in women that occurs during puberty. In men, an increase in testosterone during puberty leads the shoulders to expand. Body types can vary among men as well though. Taking into consideration fat and muscle percentage and bone structure, men generally fall into one of two categories: lean or bulky.

  1. Ectomorph

    • An ectomorph describes a lean body type. A man who can't build muscle easily and doesn't tend to store fat can be classified as an ectomorph. Distance runners are often in this category. They tend to have a long, lean build with very little muscle bulk. Heavy weight training can add some muscle to a small frame, but it also takes eating enough calories to put on muscle weight.

    Mesomorph

    • Unlike an ectomorph, a mesomorph will often have an athletic build. Most mesomorphs are neither too lean nor too fat. Instead, they fall into the average category in terms of body build. While this body type is often seen as lean, if not careful, mesomorphs can sometimes put on too much weight. It's best for mesomorphs to add aerobic exercise to their daily activity in order to keep from bulking up too much.

    Endomorph

    • The body type of an endomorph is bulky. Endomorphs easily put on both weight and muscle. Endomorphs often have a hard time reducing body fat, so aerobic activity is essential. Endomorphs can have a slower metabolism, so eating small, low-calorie meals that are high in protein can be beneficial. Most endomorphs will never look like a lean distance runner, but they can maintain a reasonable weight with the right diet and exercise routine.

    Fashion for Body Types

    • In addition to different exercises being better for lean and bulky body types, each one looks better in certain clothing styles. For example, for a man who is tall and skinny, wearing a few different colors, avoiding vertical stripes and opting for fitted shirts are optimal clothing choices. Men with a more bulky body type, on the other hand, should avoid horizontal stripes. In addition, choosing tops and pants in the same colors and wearing a belt can be very slimming.

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