Body shape

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Line art depictions of a nude man and a woman from the Pioneer plaques. Notice the broad shoulders of the male and the wide hips of the female.

Human body shape is a complex phenomenon with sophisticated detail and function. The general shape or figure of a person is defined mainly by the molding of skeletal structures, as well as the distribution of muscles and fat.[1] Skeletal structure grows and changes only up to the point at which a human reaches adulthood and remains essentially the same for the rest of his or her life.[notes 1]

Changes during puberty

During puberty, differentiation of the male and female body occurs for the purposes of reproduction. In adult humans, muscle mass may change due to exercise, and fat distribution may change due to hormone fluctuations. Inherited genes play a large part in the development of body shape.

Facial features

Due to the action of testosterone, males develop these facial-bone features during puberty:

Because females have around 1/10 the amount of testosterone of a male, these features do not develop to the same extent. Hence female faces are generally more similar to those of pre-pubertal children.

Skeletal structure

Skeletal structure frames the overall shape of the body and does not alter much over a lifetime. Males are, on average, taller, but body shape may be analyzed after normalizing with respect to height.[notes 4]

Comparison between a male (left) and a female pelvis (right). Females generally have wider hips relative to males in the same population. (Images not to scale.)

Broad shoulders and expanded chest (in males)

Widening of the shoulders occurs as part of the male pubertal process.[2] Expansion of the ribcage is caused by the effects of testosterone during puberty.[notes 5] Hence males generally have broad shoulders and expanded chests, allowing them to inhale more air to supply their muscles with oxygen[citation needed].

Wide hips (in females)

Widening of the hip bones occurs as part of the female pubertal process,[2] and estrogens (the predominant sex hormones in females) causes a widening of the pelvis as a part of sexual differentiation. Hence females generally have wider hips, permitting childbirth. Because the female pelvis is flatter, more rounded and proportionally larger, the head of the fetus may pass during childbirth.[3] The sacrum in females is shorter and wider, and also directed more toward the rear (see image).[4] This sometimes affects their walking style, resulting in hip sway;[5] The upper limb in females have an outward angulation (carrying angle) at elbow level to accommodate the wider pelvis. After puberty, female hips are generally wider than female shoulders; males exhibit the opposite configuration. But not everyone follows this stereotypical pattern of secondary sex characteristics.[6] Both male and female hormones are present in the human body, and though only one of them is predominant in an adult, the other hormone has effects on body's shape to some extent.[7]

Fat distribution, muscles and tissues

Females generally store fat in buttocks, hips and thighs due to effect of estrogen, while males store fat around the belly area.

Body shape is affected by body fat distribution, which is correlated to current levels of sex hormones.[notes 6] Muscles and fat distribution may change from time to time, unlike bone structure, depending on food habits, exercises and hormone levels.

Fat distribution

Fat distribution plays an important role in health; some studies suggest that fat in the thighs and hips may be beneficial to one's health.[8]

Estrogen causes fat to be stored in the buttocks, thighs, and hips in women.[9][10] When women reach menopause and the estrogen produced by ovaries declines, fat migrates from their buttocks, hips and thighs to their waists;[notes 7] later fat is stored in the belly.[11] Thus females generally have relatively narrow waists and large buttocks,[12] and this along with wide hips make for a wider hip section and a lower waist-hip ratio compared to men.[13] Hormonal and genetic factors may produce male-like distribution of fat in women i.e. around the belly instead of buttocks and thighs.

Estrogen increases fat storage in the body,[notes 8] which results in more fat stored in the female body.[14] Body fat percentage recommendations are higher for females, as this may serve as an energy reserve for pregnancy. Males have less subcutaneous fat in their faces due to the effects of testosterone;[15] testosterone also reduces fat by aiding fast metabolism. Males generally deposit fat around waists and abdomens (producing an "apple shape") due to the lack of estrogen.

Muscles

Testosterone helps build and maintain muscles through exercise.[notes 9] On average, males have around 10 times more testosterone than women. Prominent muscles of the body include the pectoral muscles, biceps and triceps in the arms and quadriceps in the thighs.

Breasts

Females have enlarged breasts due to functional mammary glands, which develop from puberty onward due to the effects of estrogen. Mammary glands do not contain muscle tissue. The shape of female breasts is affected by age, genetic factors, and body weight.

Overweight and underweight

Being overweight or underweight causes change in the human body's shape as well as posture and walking style. This is measured using BMI or waist circumference. Depending on the BMI, a body may be referred to as slim, overweight, or obese. New computer based measurement, such as the BVI, specifically take body shape and where weight on the body is distributed as the basis in determining this.

Dieting, in conjunction with exercise, may by used to bring and keep the BMI within an acceptable range.

The fats and carbohydrates in food constitute the majority of energy used by the body. They are measured cumulatively in the USA and many other places in calories and in kilojoules in some other parts of the world.

Effect on body posture and gait

Body shape has effects on body posture and gait, and has a major role in physical attraction. This is because a body's shape implies an individual's hormone levels during puberty, which implies fertility, and it also indicates current levels of sex hormones.[notes 10] A pleasing shape also implies good health and fitness of the body.

Terminologies

Michelangelo's David - V-shaped torso is considered attractive.

Classifications of female body sizes are mainly based on the circumference of the bust-waist-hip (BWH), as in 36-24-36 (inches) respectively. In this case, the waist-hip ratio is 24/36 = 0.67. Many terms or classifications are used to describe body shape types:

  • V shape: Males tend to have proportionally smaller buttocks, bigger chests and wider shoulders, which makes for a V-shape of the torso. V-shaped, or mesomorphic, males are considered attractive.[citation needed]
  • Hourglass shape: The female body is significantly narrower in the waist both in front view and profile view. The waist is narrower than the chest region due to the breasts, and narrower than the hip region due to the width of the buttocks, which results in an hourglass shape.
  • Apple: The stomach region is wider than the hip section, mainly in males. This is also referred to as endomorphic.
  • Pear or spoon or bell: The hip section is wider than the upper body, mainly in females.[16]
  • Rectangle or straight or banana: The hip, waist, and shoulder sections are relatively similar. This is also referred to as ectomorphic.

Impact on health

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, those people with a larger waist (apple shaped) have higher health risks than those who carry excess weight on the hips and thighs (pear shaped). People with apple shaped bodies who carry excess weight are at greater risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.[17]

Fitness and exercises

Different forms of exercises are practiced for the fitness of the body and also for health. Different forms of exercises include walking, jogging, sports, yoga[citation needed], aerobics, and weightlifting. It is a common belief that targeted exercise reduces fat in specific parts of the body[18] —for example, that exercising muscles around the belly reduces fat in the belly. This, however, is now proven to be a misconception. Spot reduction exercises are not useful unless you plan proper exercise regime to lose overall calories.[19] But exercising reduces fat throughout the body, and where fat is stored depends on hormones. Liposuction is surgery commonly used in developed societies to remove fat from the body.

Clothing and accessories

Clothing changes the appearance of the body. Fashion may enhance the shape of the body, while tight jeans, bikinis, bras, belts, corsets, and other garments may support or constrict areas of the body to achieve different proportions. High heeled shoes, generally used by females, also alter body proportions.

Dress size depends on different dimensions. US, European and international standards are common. Different terms used in fashion include petite sizes,[20] full-figured (FFW),[21] size zero, and vanity sizing.

Clothing designers and retailers specialize in selling branded garments made especially to appeal to certain age groups, and also to buyers with specific body shapes.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Growth is usually completed between the ages of 13 and 18, at which time the epiphyseal plates of long bones close, allowing no further growth (see Human skeleton).
  2. ↑ Bone across the centre of the forehead from around the middle of eyebrow across to the middle of the other
  3. ↑ Testosterone thickens the brow and "upper bridge of the nose"
  4. ↑ Males are taller
  5. ↑ Testosterone causes expansion of rib cage during puberty as one of secondary sex characteristics.
  6. ↑ "Body shape is determined by the nature of body fat distribution that, in turn, is significantly correlated with women's sex hormone profile"
  7. ↑ Researchers think that the lack of oestrogen at menopause play a role in driving our fat northward
  8. ↑ Oestrogen women have activates fat storing enzymes and causes them to multiply
  9. ↑ Maintaining sufficient levels of the hormone testosterone can "build muscle and decrease body fat"
  10. ↑ "Body shape is determined by the nature of body fat distribution that, in turn, is significantly correlated with women's sex hormone profile, risk for disease, and reproductive capability"

References

  1. ↑ "Body shape is determined by the nature of body fat distribution". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Secondary sexual characteristics occur as part of the pubertal process". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  3. ↑ See Gender differences in Human skeleton and Sexual dimorphism in Hips
  4. ↑ Saukko P, Knight B. Knight's Forensic Pathology, 3rd Ed. Edward Arnold Ltd. 2004. ISBN 0-340-76044-3.
  5. ↑ "Females walk with hip sway". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  6. ↑ "Hips grow wider than their shoulders". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  7. ↑ "Some women have more male sex hormones than the average woman". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  8. ↑ "Big bum, thunder thighs good for health". "fat distribution is important to health" 
  9. ↑ "Reducing Abdominal Fat". 
  10. ↑ "Waistline Worries: Turning Apples Back Into Pears". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  11. ↑ "Abdominal fat and what to do about it". 
  12. ↑ "Big Butts are Back". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  13. ↑ "Why men store fat in bellies, women on hips". The Times Of India. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  14. ↑ "Sex hormone making women fat?". The Times Of India. 7 April 2009. Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  15. ↑ "Subcutaneous fat in face decreases" - Advanced postnatal effects
  16. ↑ "Illustration of shape in body shape calculator". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  17. ↑ "Assess your weight". Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  18. ↑ "Fat Loss & Weight Training Myths". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  19. ↑ "Misconceptions about weight loss". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  20. ↑ "Cambridge Dictionaries Online - Cambridge University Press". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 
  21. ↑ "Full Figured Women - What does FFW stand for?". Retrieved 10/9/2011. 

External links

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