WHAT IS A SOMATOTYPE?

A somatotype is a numerical descriptor of overall physique in terms of body shape and composition independent of age, size or gender. The Heath-Carter somatotype rating is a description of the present relative shape and composition of the human body. It is expressed in a three-number rating with one number for each of three components of physique: endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy. For example, a somatotype rating is written as 3-5-2, representing the three components always in the same order, and spoken as “three, five, two”. This group of numbers tells the observer about the relative adiposity, musculo-skeletal robustness, and linearity of the physique. In somatotyping, “relative” means that the three components are independent of stature. Ratings can be made over the whole range of human physiques, with a variety of combinations of the three components. The range of ratings in half-units is:

Endomorphy: ½ to 16+

Mesomorphy: ½ to 13+

Ectomorphy: ½ to 10+

The “+” indicates that the scale is open ended and higher values might be observed in the future. The somatotype should always be viewed as a whole or “gestalt”, and only rarely will the component ratings be separated for analysis.

For further information regarding the meaning and applications of somatotyping, the reader is referred to Carter and Heath (1990). In addition the following web site provides information on the history, methods and bibliographies of somatotyping: www.somatotype.org.

Example: 18.9 yr; 188.6 cm; 81.9 kg; HWR = 43.44; Somatotype = 1½-6½-3.