Body shape

Short description: General shape of a human body

1972 line art depiction of nude man and woman from the Pioneer plaques.

Template:Human body weight 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 their life. 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]

Many aspects of body shape vary with gender and the female body shape especially has a complicated cultural history. The science of measuring and assessing body shape is called anthropometry.

## Contents

* 1 Physiology
* 1.1 Facial features
* 1.2 Skeletal structure
* 1.2.1 Female traits
* 1.2.2 Male traits
* 1.3 Fat distribution, muscles and tissues
* 1.3.1 Fat distribution
* 1.3.2 Muscles
* 1.3.3 Breasts
* 1.4 Weight
* 1.5 Body posture and gait
* 2 Impact on health
* 2.1 Fitness and exercise
* 3 Social and cultural ideals
* 4 Terminology
* 5 See also
* 6 Notes
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## Physiology

During puberty, differentiation of the male and female body occurs for the purpose 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

Classical female and male faces

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

* A more prominent brow bone (bone across the centre of the forehead from around the middle of eyebrow across to the middle of the other) and a larger nose bone.[3]
* A heavier jaw.
* A high facial width-to-height ratio.[4] However some studies dispute this, and testosterone reduces cheekbone prominence in males.[5]
* A more prominent chin.

Because females have around 1/15 (6.67%) the amount of testosterone of a male,[6] the testosterone-dependent features do not develop to the same extent, and thus female faces are generally less changed from to those of pre-pubertal children.

### Skeletal structure

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.)

Skeletal structure frames the overall shape of the body and does not alter much after maturity. Males are, on average, taller, but body shape may be analyzed after normalizing with respect to height. The length of each bone is constant, but the joint angle will change as the bone moves.[7] The dynamics of biomechanical movement will be different depending on the pelvic morphology for the same principle. The fascia anatomy of the sides of the sacral diamond area, which regulates its shape and movement, corresponds to the fascial thickenings that are part of the sacral complex of the thoracambular fascia, which surrounds the sacroiliac joints both posteriorly and, from the iliolumbar ligaments, anteriorly. The biochemical properties of the muscular bands have repercussions from the inside to the outside and vice versa.[8] The shape of the posterior muscular and adipose tissues seems to correspond with the general pelvic morphology. The classification is as follows the gynecoid pelvis corresponds to a round buttocks shape, the platypelloid pelvis to a triangle shape, the anthropoid pelvis to a square shape and the android pelvis to a trapezoidal gluteus region.[8] The trapezoidal shape is what gives steatopygia its specific shape and appearance.[citation needed]

#### Female traits

See also: Social:Female body shape

Widening of the hip bones occurs as part of the female pubertal process,[9] and estrogens (the predominant sex hormones in females) cause 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.[10] The sacrum in females is shorter and wider, and also directed more toward the rear (see image).[11] This sometimes affects their walking style, resulting in hip sway.[12] The upper limb in females have an outward angulation (carrying angle) at elbow level to accommodate the wider pelvis. After puberty, hips are generally wider than shoulders. However, not all females adhere to this stereotypical pattern of secondary sex characteristics.[13] Males and females generally have the same hormones, but blood concentrations and site sensitivity differs between males and females. Males produce primarily testosterone with small amounts of estrogen and progesterone, while women produce primarily estrogen and progesterone and small amounts of testosterone.[14]

#### Male traits

See also: Social:Masculine beauty ideal

An adult man with a "V-shaped body"; pronounced shoulder width and expanded chest, both traits typically associated with male physique

Widening of the shoulders occurs as part of the male pubertal process.[9] Expansion of the ribcage is caused by the effects of testosterone during puberty.

### Fat distribution, muscles and tissues

The rear view of a naked adult man with a "V-shaped body". Male Musculature Study - photograph by Albert Londe, Paul Marie Louis Pierre Richer (MET, 2012.59) The rear view of a naked adult woman with pronounced hip width and large buttocks, both typically associated with female physique

Body shape is affected by body fat distribution, which is correlated to current levels of sex hormones.[1] Unlike bone structure, muscles and fat distribution may change from time to time, depending on food habits, exercises and hormone levels.

#### Fat distribution

Estrogen causes fat to be stored in the buttocks, thighs, and hips in females.[15] When females reach menopause and the estrogen produced by ovaries declines, fat migrates from their buttocks, hips and thighs to their waists.[16] Later fat is stored in the belly, similar to males.[17] Thus females generally have relatively narrow waists and large buttocks, and this along with wide hips make for a wider hip section and a lower waist–hip ratio compared to males.[18]

Estrogen increases fat storage in the body, which results in more fat stored in the female body.[19] Body fat percentage guidelines are higher for females,[20] as this may serve as an energy reserve for pregnancy.[21] Males generally deposit fat around waists and abdomens (producing an "apple shape"). Transgender men and those who begin masculinizing hormone therapy see body fat redistributed within 3–6 months. Within 5 years, testosterone may cause gynoid fat to be significantly reduced.[22][23] Inversely, transgender women, or those who begin feminizing hormone therapy, experience the formation of gynoid fat along with natural breast development.[23]

#### Muscles

Testosterone helps build and maintain muscles through exercise. On average, men have around 5-20 times more testosterone than women and naturally and biologically males gain more muscle mass and size than women.[24] However, women can also build muscle mass by increasing the testosterone level naturally.[25] Prominent muscles of the body include the latissimus dorsi and trapezius in the back, pectoral muscles and rectus abdominis (abdomen) in the chest and stomach respectively, as well as biceps and triceps in the arms and gluteus maximus, quadriceps and hamstrings in the thighs.[26]

#### Breasts

Females have breasts due to functional mammary glands, which develop in puberty from the influence of various hormones such as thyroxine, cortisol, progesterone, estrogen, insulin, prolactin, and human growth hormone.[27] Mammary glands do not contain muscle tissue. The shape of female breasts is affected by age, genetic factors, and body weight. Women's breasts tend to grow larger after menopause, due to increase in fatty deposits caused by decreasing levels of estrogen. The loss of elasticity from connective tissue associated with menopause also causes sagging.[28]

### Weight

Being overweight or underweight affects the human body's shape as well as posture and walking style. This is measured using Body Mass Index (BMI). Depending on the BMI, a body may be referred to as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. A person with a BMI below 18.5 is classed as underweight, between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal, above 24.9 is overweight and a BMI of 30 or higher is defined as obese.[29]

### Body posture and gait

Body shape has effects on body posture[30] 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.[1] A pleasing shape also implies good health and fitness of the body. Posture also affects body shape as different postures significantly alter body measurements, which thus can alter a body's shape.[30][31]

## 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.[32] The United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence advises that a person's waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) should not exceed 0.5, and that this rule applies to everyone from the age of five and is irrespective of gender, ethnicity or BMI.[33]

### Fitness and exercise

Different forms of exercises are practiced for the fitness of the body and also for health. It is a common belief that targeted exercise reduces fat in specific parts of the body —for example, that exercising muscles around the belly reduces fat in the belly. This, however, is now proven to be a misconception; these exercises may change body shape by improving muscle tone but any fat reduction is not specific to the locale. Spot reduction exercises are not useful unless you plan proper exercise regime to lose overall calories. 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.

## Social and cultural ideals

Venus de Milo at the Louvre has been described as a "classical vision of beauty".[34][35][36][lower-alpha 1]

Michelangelo's David is considered a symbol of young male beauty and strength

The general body shapes of female and male bodies both have significant social and cultural symbolism. Physical attractiveness is closely associated with traits that are considered typical of either sex.[38] The body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, and especially waist-to-chest ratio in men have been shown in studies to rank as overall more desirable to women. To be deemed to have an "athletic built"/build[39] is usually a reference to wide shoulders, a muscular upper body and well-developed upper-arm muscles which are all traits closely associated with masculinity, similarly to other specifics of the male sex, like beards. These traits are seen more sexually attractive to women and also associated with higher intelligence, good leadership qualities and better health.[40]

## Terminology

Classifications of female body sizes are mainly based on the circumference of the bust–waist–hip (BWH), as in 90-60-90 (centimeters) or 36–24–36 (inches) respectively. In this case, the waist–hip ratio is 60/90 or 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, wider latissimus dorsi and a small waist which makes for a V-shape of the torso.
* 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 figure.
* Apple: The stomach region is wider than the hip section, mainly in males.
* Rectangle or straight or banana: The hip, waist, and shoulder sections are relatively similar.

## See also

* Medicine:Body image
* Biology:Body proportions - Proportions of the human body in art
* Body mass index - Relative weight based on mass and height (BMI)
* Medicine:Body roundness index - Body scale based on waist circumference and height (BRI)
* Social:Female body shape - Cumulative product of the human female skeletal structure and distribution of muscle and fat
* Human gait - A pattern of limb movements made during locomotion
* Biology:Human physical appearance - Look, outward phenotype
* Biology:Phenotype - Composite of the organism's observable characteristics or traits
* Biology:Human skeleton - Internal framework of the human body
* Philosophy:Sex differences in humans
* Biology:Sexual dimorphism - Evolved difference in sex-specific characteristics
* Philosophy:Somatotype and constitutional psychology - Taxonomy to categorize human physiques
* Biology:Eugenics - Aim to improve perceived human genetic quality (discredited fringe theory)
* Waist–hip ratio
* Waist-to-height ratio

## Notes

1. ↑ However, one expert suggested that her "almost matronly representation" was meant to convey an "impressive appearance" rather than "ideal female beauty".[37]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "An Evolutionary Theory of Female Physical Attractiveness". Psi Chi. The National Honor Society in Psychology. 2007. http://www.psichi.org/pubs/articles/article_548.asp.
2. ↑ "Lateral Synovial Joint Loading Explained In Simple English". 19 August 2012. http://www.naturalheightgrowth.com/2012/08/19/lateral-synovial-joint-loading-explained-in-simple-english/.
3. ↑ "Effects of sexual dimorphism on facial attractiveness". Nature 394 (6696): 884–887. August 1998. doi:10.1038/29772. PMID 9732869. Bibcode: 1998Natur.394..884P. https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1599110.
4. ↑ "The Face of Aggression". August 20, 2008. https://www.science.org/content/article/face-aggression.
5. ↑ Hodges-Simeon, Carolyn R.; Sobraske, Katherine N. Hanson; Samore, Theodore (14 April 2016). "Facial Width-To-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels" (in en). PLOS ONE 11 (4). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153083. ISSN 1932-6203. PMID 27078636. Bibcode: 2016PLoSO..1153083H. ""Specifically, facial width/lower face height gets smaller (i.e., the lower face grows more than the width of the face), cheekbone prominence gets smaller (i.e., the width of the face at the mouth—a measure of relative jaw width—grows more than the width of the cheekbones), and lower face height/full face height gets larger (i.e., facial growth is focused in the lower face) as male adolescents develop. These results are consistent with the craniofacial literature that documents pronounced growth in the male mandible under the influence of exogenous T [51] and during puberty [83–85]. Similarly, the association between T and these mandible-inclusive facial ratios accords with Lefevre et al. [16], who found significant sexual dimorphism in these three ratios, but no adult sex difference in fWHR." See Table 1 and Figure 2 for cheekbone relation to testosterone levels.".
6. ↑ Handelsman, David J; Hirschberg, Angelica L; Bermon, Stephane (October 2018). "Circulating Testosterone as the Hormonal Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance". Endocrine Reviews 39 (5): 803–829. doi:10.1210/er.2018-00020. PMID 30010735.
7. ↑ "Dynamic clothing simulation based on skeletal motion of the human body" (in en). International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology 9 (3): 256–263. 1997. doi:10.1108/09556229710168414. ISSN 0955-6222.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Siccardi, Marco A.; Imonugo, Onyebuchi; Arbor, Tafline C.; Valle, Cristina (2025), "Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Pelvic Inlet", StatPearls (Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing), PMID 30085610, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519068/#.The, retrieved 2025-01-21
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology". The Harriet and Robert Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/pubhealth/modules/reproductiveHealth/anatomy.html. "Secondary sexual characteristics occur as part of the pubertal process"
10. ↑ See Gender differences in Human skeleton and Sexual dimorphism in Hips
11. ↑ Knight's Forensic Pathology (3rd ed.). Edward Arnold Ltd.. 2004. ISBN 0-340-76044-3.
12. ↑ "Clues To Mysteries Of Physical Attractiveness Revealed". ScienceDaily. 24 May 2007. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070523105948.htm.
13. ↑ "The secondary sexual characteristics". The Sex Atlas. http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/ATLAS_EN/html/secondary_characteristics.html. Retrieved 2011-10-09. "Hips grow wider than their shoulders"
14. ↑ Lauretta, R; Sansone, M; Sansone, A (2018). "Gender in Endocrine Diseases: Role of Sex Gonadal Hormones.". International Journal of Endocrinology 2018. doi:10.1155/2018/4847376. PMID 30420884. ""Generally, females and males have the same hormones (i.e., estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone), but their production sites, their blood concentrations, and their interactions with different organs, systems, and apparatus are different [29]. Males produce predominantly testosterone from the testes in a relatively constant daily amount according to a circadian profile. Small amounts of estrogens and progesterone are produced by the testes and the adrenal glands or are produced in the peripheral tissues, such as adipose tissue or liver, by the conversion of other precursor hormones [30]. In contrast, females mainly produce estrogens and progesterone from the ovaries in a cyclical pattern, while a small amount of testosterone (T) is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands."".
15. ↑ "Waistline Worries: Turning Apples Back Into Pears". National Women's Health Resource Center. http://www.healthywomen.org/columns/drpeekescolumn/dbcolumn/waistlineworriesturningapplesbackintopears.
16. ↑ "Women's Health". http://www.womenshealthmag.com/.
17. ↑ "Abdominal fat and what to do about it". http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Abdominal-fat-and-what-to-do-about-it.htm.
18. ↑ "Why men store fat in bellies, women on hips". The Times of India. 2011-01-03. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/Why-men-store-fat-in-bellies-women-on-hips/articleshow/5933643.cms.
19. ↑ "Sex hormone making women fat?". The Times of India. 2009-04-07. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Sex-hormone-making-women-fat/articleshow/4369598.cms.
20. ↑ "QuickStats: Mean Percentage Body Fat,* by Age Group and Sex 
 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 1999--2004†". https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5751a4.htm.
21. ↑ "Energy Intake Requirements in Pregnancy". Nutrients 11 (8): 1812. August 2019. doi:10.3390/nu11081812. PMID 31390778.
22. ↑ "Masculinizing hormone therapy - Mayo Clinic" (in en). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/masculinizing-hormone-therapy/about/pac-20385099.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Unger, Cécile A. (December 2016). "Hormone therapy for transgender patients". Translational Andrology and Urology 5 (6): 877–884. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.09.04. ISSN 2223-4691. PMID 28078219.
24. ↑ Kopala, Mary; Keitel, Merle (11 July 2003) (in en). Handbook of Counseling Women. SAGE Publications. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-4522-6285-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=9CN1AwAAQBAJ&dq=males+times+more+testosterone+than+females&pg=PA94.
25. ↑ Tiidus, PM (August 2011). "Benefits of estrogen replacement for skeletal muscle mass and function in post-menopausal females: evidence from human and animal studies.". The Eurasian Journal of Medicine 43 (2): 109–14. doi:10.5152/eajm.2011.24. PMID 25610174.
26. ↑ Applegate, Edith MS (25 February 2009) (in en). The Sectional Anatomy Learning System - E-Book: Concepts and Applications 2-Volume Set. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-323-27754-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=cVhPAQAAQBAJ&dq=largest+muscle+group+quadriceps&pg=PA108.
27. ↑ Fritz, Marc A.; Speroff, Leon (28 March 2012) (in en). Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 624. ISBN 978-1-4511-4847-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=KZLubBxJEwEC&dq=breast+size+estrogen+insulin&pg=PA624.
28. ↑ Sabel, Michael S. (23 April 2009) (in en). Essentials of Breast Surgery: A Volume in the Surgical Foundations Series E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-323-07464-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=9lFxf2HYnS4C&dq=menopause+increase+breast+volume+sagging&pg=PA16.
29. ↑ The SuRF Report 2. The Surveillance of Risk Factors Report Series (SuRF). World Health Organization. 2005. p. 22. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43190/9241593024_eng.pdf.
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Scan posture definition and hip girth measurement: the impact on clothing design and body scanning". Ergonomics 60 (8): 1123–1136. August 2017. doi:10.1080/00140139.2016.1251621. PMID 27764997. https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/9347600.
31. ↑ "Assessing the female figure identification technique's reliability as a body shape classification system". Ergonomics 64 (8): 1035–1051. August 2021. doi:10.1080/00140139.2021.1902572. PMID 33719914. https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/14170421.
32. ↑ "Assess your weight". Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3484281/k.D785/Assess_your_weight.htm.
33. ↑ "Obesity: identification and classification of overweight and obesity (update) Recommendations 1.2.25 and 1.2.26.". National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg189.
34. ↑ "People: Just Deserts". Time. May 28, 1945. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,775696,00.html. Retrieved August 5, 2011. "... "the most perfect all-over beauty of all time." Runner-up: the Venus de Milo.".
35. ↑ "Says Venus de Milo was not a Flapper; Osteopath Says She Was Neurasthenic, as Her Stomach Was Not in Proper Place.". The New York Times. April 29, 1922. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/04/29/103588246.pdf. "Venus de Milo ... That lady of renowned beauty..."
36. ↑ CBS News Staff (August 5, 2011). "Venus". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-3445_162-5417565.html. "The classical vision of beauty exemplified in Greek art, such as the 2nd century B.C. Venus de Milo (a.k.a. Aphrodite of Milos), was an ideal carried through millennia, laying the basis for much of Western art's depictions of the human form."
37. ↑ "Creating the Past: The Vénus de Milo and the Hellenistic Reception of Classical Greece". American Journal of Archaeology 109 (2): 227–50. 2005. doi:10.3764/aja.109.2.227. https://archive.org/details/sim_american-journal-of-archaeology_2005-04_109_2/page/227.
38. ↑ Pazhoohi, Farid; Garza, Ray; Kingstone, Alan (2023). "The Interacting Effects of Height and Shoulder-to-Hip Ratio on Perceptions of Attractiveness, Masculinity, and Fighting Ability: Experimental Design and Ecological Validity Considerations". Archives of Sexual Behavior 52 (1): 301–314. doi:10.1007/s10508-022-02416-2. PMID 36074312. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-022-02416-2.
39. ↑ Resurfaced. Lulu.com. May 2012. ISBN 978-1-105-71303-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=1Gm1AwAAQBAJ&q=athletic+built&pg=PT1. Retrieved 13 June 2020. "...and athletic built"
40. ↑ "The Influence of Body Weight and Shape in Determining Female and Male Physical Attractiveness". Body Image: New Research. New York: Nova Publishers. 2006. pp. 36–51. ISBN 978-1-60021-059-4.

## External links

* Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology
* Clues to Mysteries Of Physical Attractiveness Revealed

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