A mesomorph body type represents the "happy medium" of strength and leanness.
Cultures the world over equate obesity with a jovial personality and thinness with a nervous, jumpy disposition. Is that stereotyping warranted? How did body-based stereotypes arise? Dr. William Sheldon had the same questions. Sheldon dedicated his life to discovering how our bodies influence our behavior. One of the three body/personality types he described in his work is the lean, muscular mesomorph.
The Three Somatypes
William Sheldon (1898-1977) focused his keen powers of observation on birds and animals as a child. As an adult, he shifted those skills to study people---specifically, the intersection of and temperaments. A psychologist by trade, Sheldon taught and researched at a number of American universities over the course of his life. Sheldon is best known for his series of books on the human constitution, in which the "three somatypes" are described: endomorph, ectomorph and mesomorph.
Sheldon's Typology
The three somatotypes, as described by Sheldon in his book "The Atlas Of Men: A Guide For Somatotyping The Adult Male At All Ages," are based on the three tissue layers: endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm. The book correlates a person's physique and their temperament. Where an endomorph is focused on the digestive system (and is therefore plump and jolly) and an ectoderm is focused on the nervous system (and is therefore skinny and apprehensive), a mesomorph is focused on the muscles and blood. To Sheldon, this presents a muscular, aggressive tendency.
Physical Qualities
According to Sheldon, the mesomorph is the middle ground between the rounded endomorph and the spindly ectomorph. He describes the mesomorph physicality as large-framed, with a large head, broad shoulders (for men) and a narrow waist. The classical mesomorph has well-developed forearms and strong thighs and pursues enough physical activity to have a low body-fat ratio. An iconic mesomorph is well-proportioned, gains muscle rapidly and loses fat efficiently. Female mesomorphs are hourglass-shaped.
Psychological Qualities
According to Sheldon's research, the body types correspond to psychological profiles. Mesomorph psychological traits match the strength of their bodies. Typically, mesomorphs are courageous adventure-seekers, socially assertive, competitive (to the point of being power-driven) and not averse to risk. They have a zest and natural ability for sports of all kinds. A less positive mesomorph trait is indifference to the needs and desires of others.
Mesomorph Fitness
Since mesomorphs are naturally able to build solid muscle mass, this somatype tends to respond well to physical training. Mesomorphs are lucky in that they require shorter workouts and recovery times than endomorphs and ectomorphs to achieve the same results. The ideal cardiovascular workout for a mesomorph involves short, high-intensity bursts (as opposed to long, low-intensity fat-burning sessions).
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