View 3 slides

What Your Body Type Reveals About Your Health and Wellness

Our bodies are all different, inside and out. The way we are composed varies in a number of ways, and these changes can actually reveal a lot about your health and wellness. Studies show that your body shape can actually indicate the best way for you to stay in shape. The main body shape types include apple, pear, hourglass, inverted triangle, and ruler shapes. It is important to understand how each body type differs and the associated health risks for each one. This will help you better combat and address these issues to achieve optimal health. Read on to learn more about what your specific body type reveals about your health.

Apple Shape

Associated Health Risks

The apple shape tends to hold more weight in the abdominal area. This body shape is the most at risk of all types because of this increased abdominal weight. Larger waistlines put people at an increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This is the case even if you are not overweight, meaning you have a body mass index of under 25. An apple shape can make you more inclined to develop cancer, cardiovascular issues and diabetes than those with smaller waists.

Why Belly Fat is So Troublesome

Belly fat is such a heightened health risk because it fills in the empty space around organs. Being that belly fat has a huge influence on the metabolism, and the fat is near the organs, it has an effect on organ function. This can include the release of fatty acids into veins near the liver, and can also reduce pancreatic production. The result is also a higher blood sugar, thus risks of diabetes. It can additionally cause inflammation with the release of cytokines, which is responsible for heart disease.

Actions to Take

The goal is to trim down your waist through proper diet and exercise. Limit foods like sugar, bread, rice, white potatoes, and corn, which cause the blood sugar to spike and produce fat. More fruits and veggies, less fatty protein like salmon is a good start. Also, exercise for 30 minutes daily and focus on ab exercises to reduce abdominal fat.