Endomorphs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A classification of body types characterized by a naturally stocky build, with a tendency to gain weight easily and have a softer appearance
2. A type of physique often associated with rounded shapes and higher levels of body fat, manifesting in thick limbs and a wider waist
3. Describing individuals with a body type that is generally more muscular and robust, frequently leading to increased fat accumulation in the torso

Etymology: Endomorphs are one of three body types in William Herbert Sheldon's system of somatotypes, which he developed in the 1940s to link physique with temperament. Sheldon named the three types after the embryonic layers of tissue: endomorphs, mesomorphs and ectomorphs. The "endo-" comes from "endoderm", the innermost of those layers, which Sheldon associated with the digestive organs, and "-morph" is a suffix from Greek "morphē", meaning "form" or "shape." Sheldon's scheme rated people on a seven-point scale for each of the three components, so an individual could be a mixture of types rather than belonging to one. The endomorph category described people with a relatively large, soft, round build and a tendency to store fat easily. The classification is no longer used in mainstream medicine or psychology, where researchers have found Sheldon's links between body shape and personality to be weak. The term survives mainly in fitness and popular writing.

Synonyms: endomorphic individuals, round bodied types

Antonyms: ectomorphs, mesomorphs