How to Diet for Specific Body Types

The correct diet will help you achieve your desired figure and promote good health.

A proper diet necessitates eating differently depending on what type of body you have and what your nutritional goals are. Altering your caloric intake, as well as the composition of those calories, can affect the way weight will settle on a person's body. It is always a good idea to consult a doctor before dramatically altering your diet.

Instructions

1. Identify your body type. Body types are often described as endomorphic, ectomorphic and mesomorphic. An endomorph is sometimes also described as an "apple" or "pear" shaped body, and tends to store weight easily, especially in the midsection, thighs and calves. The second body type, ectomorph, will face opposite challenges, as these people tend to be lean, tall, and have problems keeping on weight and building muscle. Mesomorphs usually have a good combination of fat and muscle, and have a naturally athletic body appearance.

2. Identify your goals. The composition of your diet will vary depending on what you hope to achieve with the diet. So before you decide what you will be eating, decide whether you hope to lose fat, build muscle or simply want to eat for good health.

3. Plan your diet. An endomorphic diet should limit the intake of fats and processed food, as well as sugars. Because endomorphs store fat easily, it is necessary to focus your diet around proteins and complex carbohydrates, since these calories require more energy to burn. Try to concentrate most of the diet on fruits, vegetables and lean proteins, such as skinless chicken, fish and dark turkey. Try to plan a diet that contains between 1,500 and 2,000, comprising 600 to 750 calories from carbohydrates, 375 to 525 from fat, and around 375 from proteins.

   Since ectomorphs tend to have lean, narrow bodies, their diets can generally include a higher proportion of fat. These fats, however, should not be from fatty, greasy foods, but from healthier sources such as eggs, turkey bacon and cheese. An ectomorph's diet can also include a higher amount of calories, since these types of bodies generally burn them off at a higher rate. Plan a 2,000-calorie diet, with proportions of roughly 800 carbohydrate calories, 700 fat calories and 500 calories from protein.

   A mesomorph's diet composition should resemble that of an endomorph, containing lean meats, complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables and good fats. Because mesomorphs burn calories faster than endomorphs, however, their diets can contain more calories with less risk of weight gain.

References

• Heart Spring: List of high protein foods
• Fitness Magazine: Eat right for your body type
• Beauty and Nutrition: Body Type Diet