ANSWER 

Dear ZJ

Thanks for your question. In determining your body type you really need to assess your overall shape and not individual measurements. Is the upper half of your body narrower than the lower half.  Is your waist small or narrow whilst your shoulders and hips are around the same width? Do you have no curves but are muscly? My advice is to first assess your overall shape which will then allow you to identify what body type you are.

Body types can be classified in two different ways - firstly through our genetic predisposition and secondly through shape. The three genetic body types are:

- Endomorph
- Ectomorph
- Mesomorph

An endomorph usually has big bones and regardless of dieting will never be a size 0. This does not mean that the endomorph can not still look fabulous, they can regardless of weight or size - this will all depends on the way you dress your shape. For the endomorph however they will usually have to watch their diet for health reasons.

A mesomorph usually has broad shoulders, a narrow waist and is naturally muscly, they quite often look like an upside down triangle with the smallest point being their hips or waist region.  This is what a lot of very athletic people look like.

Finally an ectomorph is naturally thin (think of the supermodels), they have narrow hips, shoulders and waist and do not carry a lot of fat on their body.

Once you have ascertained which genetic body type you are you will then be able to narrow down your body shape. For example an ectomorph will normally fall into the Pear Shape or Hourglass figure, where as a mesomorph would fall into boyish or athletic, ectomorphs can fall into athletic, petite or even curvy!

Here's a quick snapshot on body shapes:

1. Pear Shape (Beyonce, J-lo, Cynthia Nixon)
Small up top (so a small shoulder, chest measurement), wider on bottom (so a larger hip and thigh measurement), usually has a small waist.

2. Petite Shape (Kate Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Sarah Jessica Parker)
A small person, usually very well proportioned but small in general all over, usually not tall either.

3. Hourglass Shape (Salma Hayek, Catherine Zeta Jones, Halle Berry)
Different to the pear as this shape balances out at the top where the pear does not, usually very even measurements across shoulders, chest and hips. Usually rubenesque as well with large breasts.

4. Boyish Shape (Portia Di Rossi, Gwyneth Paltrow)
This is the shape that appears straight up and down and can be quite muscular, Cameron Diaz is a great example. Usually quite flat chested.

5. Curvy Shape (Shakira, Kate Winslet, Brittany Spears)
Usually have a curvy bottom, small waist, hips and chest measure the same, but this shape is round all over.

6. Athletic Shape (Serena & Venus Williams, Madonna, Anna Kournikova)
Can look like a boyish shape but is characterised by all those cut muscles, think of Madonna's arms.

Hopefully this has helped you ascertain your body type and shape! And for more info why not read Tara's story all about Shopping For Shape.

Love
Bronny
xxxx