Dr Cabot says, in "The Body Shaping Diet" book, there are 4 different body types and each type has unique hormonal and metabolic characteristics. Some body types gain weight easily and are also more susceptible to cellulite.
Remember that you can't change your body type, height and bone structure, but you can certainly change your body shape and body fat levels. Some people do not fit into any of the categories given below. Regular exercise and a healthy diet will make you healthy and fit.
Android, Mesomorph
 
The Android body type has broad shoulders and strong muscular limbs. The trunk is somewhat straight up and down and there is not much of a waist. The pelvis is narrow and the hips do not flare. Android types have an anabolic metabolism, which means that they tend to be body- building and will gain weight in the upper part of their body so that they may become apple-shaped. Most of their weight gain occurs on the front of the abdomen. They build muscle mass easily and make good athletes. They tend to produce more male hormones than do the other body types. Android types tend to crave foods that are high in cholesterol and salt. The body turns cholesterol into steroid hormones, which will have a body building effect. This may lead to some cellulite in the abdominal area, trunk and upper buttocks, but not below the hips.
Her broad shoulders give her an athletic appearance- like Madonna or Cindy Crawford- and a spare tyre around the middle when she puts on weight. She loves high cholesterol hamburgers or steaks, and her excess kilograms may mean excess facial and body hair too!
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Gynaeoid
 
The Gynaeoid body type is the curvy shape with small to medium shoulders tapering to a small waist and then flaring below to wide curvaceous hips. Weight gain occurs only on the thighs and lower buttocks and gives a very feminine and curvy shape. Many gynaeoid types will have a big problem with cellulite accumulating around the upper thighs and buttocks. If they try to lose weight with just any old low-fat low-calorie diet, it can be quite frustrating because weight will tend to come off easily from areas where there is not a problem, while the thighs and buttocks retain their fatty deposits and cellulite. They often have a hormonal imbalance called estrogen dominance which means that there is too much estrogen compared to progesterone. They often crave foods combining high amounts of fat and sugar, which will increase their sensitivity to estrogen, leading to more cellulite in the buttocks and thighs. They do well with plant hormones (phyto-estrogens), which have a balancing effect and help them to reduce their estrogen dependent weight gain.
For the classic pear shaped woman, fat is stored in the buttocks and thighs. Favourite foods are creamy cakes and sugary quick fixes- just ask Elizabeth Taylor or Julia Roberts. Most diets make her lose weight where she doesn’t want to - her breasts and face.
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Thyroid, Ectomorph
 
The Thyroid body type is characterized by a fine narrow bone structure and long limbs. This body type often has a race-horse or grey hound appearance. Many dancers and models belong to this body type. Thyroid types often crave stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine and artificial sweeteners, and may miss meals. They often have problems with unstable blood sugar levels, which can cause fatigue and cravings for sugar and stimulants. Generally speaking, thyroid types do not gain weight easily and have a very high metabolic rate. Of all the body types they are least likely to develop cellulite and if it does occur, it is on the buttocks and back of the thighs.
Lean and rangy, she has long legs, a long neck, and narrow hips like Princess Diana. She may have a propensity for eating disorders and she relishes energy boosters like caffeine, cigarettes, spicy foods or chocolate. No wonder she feels high-strung!
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Lymphatic, Endomorph
 
Lymphatic body types gain weight all over the body, and have a cuddly baby doll appearance. Weight gain occurs very easily because lymphatic types have a very low metabolic rate. They also have a dysfunctional lymphatic system resulting in generalised fluid retention, which makes them look fatter than they are. They are prone to deposits of fat swollen with lymphatic fluid, which can cause severe cellulite. This type of cellulite gives them thick puffy limbs so that it is hard to see their bone structure. They often avoid exercise and crave dairy products, both of which will exacerbate their cellulite.
Often chubby since childhood, the lymphatic-shaped woman gains weight evenly all over- like Roseanne or Oprah. She craves dairy products and salty foods. Soft, cuddly, and often a couch potato, she just hates to exercise!
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