Apples and Pears – A Closer Look At What Your Body’s Shape Is Telling You
You may have had your body compared to a piece of fruit before - most likely having more to do with your body shape - but, did you know that some shapes could mean more than just having something in common with a piece of fruit?
Body Types
Apple (triangle downward)
Apple shaped women have broader shoulders and bust, but narrower hips. Apple shaped women have much higher androgen levels compared to women with other body types. Because of this high androgen level, the skeleton develops in a masculine pattern. Fat is mainly distributed in the abdomen, chest, and face.
Banana or straight (rectangular)
The waist measurement is less than 9 inches smaller than the hips or bust measurement. The body has a relatively high androgen level compared to the estrogen level, and this causes the skeleton to develop in a more masculine pattern and body fat to be distributed predominantly in the abdomen, buttocks, chest and face.
Pear or spoon or bell (triangle upward)
The hip measurement is greater than the bust measurement. The distribution of fat varies, with fat tending to deposit first in the buttocks, hips and thighs. As body fat percentage increases, an increasing proportion of body fat is distributed around the waist and upper abdomen.
Hourglass shape (triangles opposing, facing in)
The hip and bust are almost of equal size with a narrow waist. Body fat distribution tends to be around both the upper body and lower body. This body type enlarges the arms, chest, hips and rear before other parts, including waist and upper abdomen. Because of the preference shown to physical symmetry, many celebrities falsely claim hourglass measurements but actually rate closer to a straight figure or apple.
Dangerous Proportions
While any of these "shapes" - or, patterns of fat accumulation - could make you feel uncomfortable in a new pair of jeans or slinky little red dress, the truth is that they aren't equal when it comes to your health and metabolism.
Fat stored around the middle (apple shape) is known as visceral abdominal tissue (VAT) - also commonly referred to as love handles and beer bellies. Research has shown that VAT significantly increases the risk for a range of problems - from high blood pressure to diabetes to metabolic syndrome. In fact, a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that excess belly fat almost doubled the risk of death from a host of diseases, including stroke, heart disease, and cancer.
Why is abdominal fat more of a problem than fat in other areas? The answer seems to be in the difference in how abdominal fat functions. According to Harvard endocrinologist JoAnn Manson, MD, abdominal fat cells tend to be more active in producing hormones and chemical messengers that cause inflammation throughout the body.
One of the most important things with fat is LOCATION. Subcutaneous fat - the kind that gets stored on your butt, thighs, and upper arms - is the kind you can pinch and is stored right beneath the skin. And, while it can be both unattractive and annoying, it's mostly harmless. Belly fat, however, lies deep inside the abdominal cavity near the liver and the hormones and chemicals produced by this fat goes straight to the liver, setting the body up for a myriad of health issues.
What Now?
In order to do figure out exactly how at-risk you are, you will want to do a few measurements and calculations.
1. Measure the circumference of your waist at its smallest point.
2. Measure the circumference of your hips at their widest point.
3. Divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement.
A waist-to-hip ration of 0.9 or greater for men and 0.85 or greater for women indicates increased health risks. However, while the waist-to-hip ratio is far better at evaluating risk for stroke and other issues than BMI calculations, other criteria should also be taken into account, such as weight and body type. For example, athletic women may have a higher waist-to-hip ratio due to narrower hips but have a normal weight.
The waist-to-hip ratio also correlates with general health and fertility. Women and men within their respective ranges have been shown to be less susceptible to a variety of major disease, from diabetes to heart disease to cancer. S
o, what do you do if your waist-to-hip ratio is out of the healthy range? Well, the first recommendation would be to lose weight if you are overweight. However, we recommend you consult your doctor, first as there may be other health factors that should be considered as you try to lose weight and become healthier.
