Body Type Calculator — Fashion Shape & Somatotype Guide

The Formula

Body shape is determined by the relative proportions of bust, waist, and hip circumferences. The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is also a health indicator — higher WHR indicates more central/visceral fat, which carries greater cardiovascular risk. The fashion shape classification (Pear, Apple, Hourglass, etc.) guides clothing fit, while the somatotype system describes body composition tendencies.

Variable Definitions

How to Use This Calculator

1. 1

   Measure your bust/chest at the fullest point with a soft measuring tape.

2. 2

   Measure your waist at the narrowest point (typically above the belly button).

3. 3

   Measure your hips at the widest point across the glutes.

4. 4

   Select your unit system and enter all three measurements.

5. 5

   Review your body shape classification, WHR, and the somatotype explanation below.

Common Applications

• Clothing and fashion fit — identify your body shape (pear, apple, hourglass, rectangle, inverted triangle) to choose clothing styles that flatter your proportions
• Health risk screening — use waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to assess cardiovascular risk from central fat distribution, which is often more predictive of health outcomes than BMIA weight-for-height index calculated as weight (kg) ÷ height² (m²). Used to screen for weight categories that may indicate health risks. alone
• Fitness programming — understand your somatotype tendencies (ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph) to tailor training and nutrition approaches for your body composition
• Weight loss progress monitoring — track changes in waist-to-hip ratio over time as a meaningful health indicator that captures dangerous visceral fat reduction beyond scale weight

Somatotypes describe body composition tendencies: ectomorph (lean), mesomorph (muscular), endomorph (soft)

Understanding the Concept

The body shape classification system used here is based on fashion industry standards: the relative proportions of bust, waist, and hip define the silhouette (Pear, Apple, Hourglass, Rectangle, Inverted Triangle). This is useful for clothing fit but has limited health implications. Separately, the somatotype theory (ectomorph/mesomorph/endomorph) was developed in the 1940s by psychologist William Sheldon, who controversially linked body types to temperament. Modern sports physiology uses somatotype categories descriptively — they describe your current body composition, not a fixed biological destiny. Your body type can change significantly with nutrition and training. The WHR is the most clinically useful metric here: a WHR above 0.85 for women or 0.90 for men indicates higher cardiovascular risk due to central fat distribution, even at a normal BMIA weight-for-height index calculated as weight (kg) ÷ height² (m²). Used to screen for weight categories that may indicate health risks.. A practical example: a woman with measurements 36-27-39 has an hourglass shape with a WHR of 0.69, which is well within the healthy range. If her waist increased to 36 inches (measurements 36-36-39), she would shift to an apple shape with a WHR of 0.92, indicating significantly elevated cardiovascular risk — even if her weight stayed exactly the same. This illustrates why waist measurement trends over time are more informative than body weight for assessing metabolic health. Losing even 1-2 inches from the waist through diet and exercise can meaningfully reduce disease risk, regardless of whether the scale moves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References