Best Body Type For Bodybuilding

The Best Body Type for Bodybuilding

What is the Best Body Type for Bodybuilding?

Is it a pure mesomorph or should there be a combination of body types with either ectomorphic or endomorphic characteristics?

That’s what we’re going to discuss in this blog post…

Just the other day I received a facebook message asking…

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Emerson wrote:
“What is the best body figure to start bodybuilding? A fat one or a skinny one? And do fat people have more body mass (i.e. muscle mass) than skinny people?”
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Well the truth of the matter, whether you like it or not, is that Fat People generally do have more muscle mass than skinny people. Again the key word here is “generally” because there are always exceptions to the rule.

In fact, the people with the most lean body mass of any human being on the planet are Sumo Wrestlers. Even though they may look like big blobs of fat, they actually have a heck of a lot of lean muscle mass underneath that fat mass.

There was a study done back in 1994 on Japanese Sumo Wrestlers to explore the upper limits of fat free mass for the human body. The study compared the amount of lean muscle mass of sumo wrestlers, bodybuilders, and average untrained people. It was found that the Sumo wrestlers had a significantly greater amount of lean muscle mass than the bodybuilders. Who had a greater amount of lean muscle mass than untrained people.

You can read the study at: “Upper limit of fat-free mass in humans: A study on Japanese Sumo wrestlers.”

The people with the most lean body mass of any human being on the planet are Sumo Wrestlers

Now that doesn’t mean that I think you should go and pig out purposely getting fat in effort to gain more muscle mass. There is a lot more to “bodybuilding” than simply having a lot of sheer mass on your frame.

The BEST Bodybuilding Body Type…

From an aesthetics point of view a lean muscular physique is much more appealing than a bigger softer physique. And for this reason I believe that the ideal bodybuilding physique would be primarily a mesomorph (a naturally muscular build), but with a slight ectomorphic edge. Probably about a 90% mesomorph and 10% ectomorph.

The reason for this is that ectomorphs have a very fast metabolism and can maintain a leaner physique much easier. A lot of the great bodybuilding champions have this type of body type. From the classic old school bodybuilders like Frank Zane, Serge Nubret, Vince Gironda, and Reg Park. To modern bodybuilders like Flex Wheeler, Dexter Jackson, and our current Mr. Olympia Phil Heath who have a massive, but very lean aesthetically pleasing physiques.

And now the latest trend in bodybuilding competition with Men’s Physique and Classic Bodybuilding is primarily geared towards guys with a combination of a mesomorphic and ectomorphic body type.

Mr. Olympia 2013 Men's Physique

The Top 5 at the 2013 Mr. Olympia Men’s Physique Competition.

What do you think is the ideal bodybuilding body type?
Please post your comments below…

About The Author

leehayward

Lee Hayward is a former competitive bodybuilder and muscle building coach who has been online coaching people since 1997. His work has been featured in several international magazines such as: FLEX, Muscle Insider, Muscle Mag International, Testosterone, Ironmag, and Forbes. Lee's main focus right now is with helping men over 40 - who don't want to be fat anymore - lose the gut, build muscle, and get back in shape. If you're ready to "Start Again" for the last time and finally build a lean healthy body that you can be proud of, just e-mail Lee to discuss a realistic action plan that's right for you... lee@leehayward.com

17 Comments

  • Tom

    the best body type for bodybuilding is whatever bodytype you happen to be. thinking any other way only gives you an excuse for failure.

  • SmithW

    Tom,

    Great answer,Tom. Isn’t bodybuilding all about building the best body *you* the individual can have? Maybe an endomorph won’t have the V-shape with 6-pack abs, but he can get big and solid and strong, and an ectomorph will be lean and powerful, even if he’s not huge.

  • I think an endo/meso would look better leaned out than a meso/ecto. Might be a little harder to get to single digit body fat for this body type though.

  • Ted Vary

    The best body type is the one you’ve got. Believe it and just do it – it’s all you’ll ever have.

  • Sam

    Hi Lee
    I don’t think anyone knows the answer to your question, since all bodybuilders take steroids and they grow regardless of their body type.

  • Serge

    Good day Kind Sir and thank you very much for your Amazing Videos.
    I have some questions which I believe a lot of other people wondering about and can only hope that you will kindly answer them, if you even get a chance.
    I have researched that First year of bodybuilding gets you 50% of all muscle you can get in a life time doing bodybuilding, if you never did bodybuilding before , where other half you get in about other 4-5 years, therefore it is so important to know how to do it perfectly.
    Can I please know which way is the best for biggest-fastest muscle Growth?
    Option1:
    Start body building now with my body fat level 20-22% , where I am dieting to loose fat on low Carbs 220 and low calories200 Diet-Daily and grow muscles at the same time, if such even possible.
    Option2:
    Loose body fat to about 16% with running and other pure cardio training and only then start bodybuilding with Higher Calories and Carbs Diet.
    Also if you would not mind:
    How much of muscle growth would person loose if going for Option 1 ?
    30% ? 50% ?? if there be any muscle growth decrease by going for Option1 at all.

  • Serge:
    Good day Kind Sir and thank you very much for your Amazing Videos.
    I have some questions which I believe a lot of other people wondering about and can only hope that you will kindly answer them, if you even get a chance.
    I have researched that First year of bodybuilding gets you 50% of all muscle you can get in a life time doing bodybuilding, if you never did bodybuilding before , where other half you get in about other 4-5 years, therefore it is so important to know how to do it perfectly.
    Can I please know which way is the best for biggest-fastest muscle Growth?
    Option1:
    Start body building now with my body fat level 20-22% , where I am dieting to loose fat on low Carbs 220 and low calories200 Diet-Daily and grow muscles at the same time, if such even possible.
    Option2:
    Loose body fat to about 16% with running and other pure cardio training and only then start bodybuilding with Higher Calories and Carbs Diet.
    Also if you would not mind:
    How much of muscle growthwould person loose if going for Option 1 ?
    30% ? 50% ?? if there be any muscle growth decrease by going for Option1 at all.

    This would make for a good Ask Lee Video Q and A. But the short answer is you should include BOTH weight training & cardio as part of your fitness program. Building muscle will also help you lose bodyfat. The more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism will be, and the more fat you’ll burn. Start weight training now and reap the results!

  • Serge

    leehayward,

    Thank you soooo much
    Let your dreams come true

  • Serge

    Serge,

    sorry so does it mean, that i am to rise my calories from 2K to 4K to best supply my muscle growth?

  • Gavin

    Tom,

    I know what you mean, every body type is the best one for THAT person. At the same time though, I disagree. People should be comfortable with themselves, yes. But, just thinking you don’t have the best body type, doesn’t mean you can’t still be positive about making a change and doing the best you can with it. There can still be success either way! It’s just when people let it discourage them because they aren’t making good gains (or think they can’t) that I believe it causes them to fail.

  • Srinath

    Respected Couch,
    I am 52 Yrs old.Now I have started doing Gym regulrly from 4 Months. Mine is pigeon chest type body. Now I have to improve my chest. and to keep good health and strong. Previously I was a drinker and regular smoker. Now I have controlled everything. give me some advice to how to achieve my goal. and how many months it will take.
    Waiting fo Ur reply,
    Thanking U, sir

  • Ary

    Hi i’m 50% Mesomorph 25% Ectomorph and 25 Endomorph do you think is good for Men’s Physique?

  • Omar

    Ary,

    I happen to have the same exact percentages for my body type and altgough i can’t answer your question because i still don’t know it myself what you should know is that what your asking is a very wrong question. Every body type is ok for bodybuilding;trust me. What you should be asking is what should i eat and how should i train according to my body type. Not if my body type is ok for body building!!

  • Omar,

    Great advice, people just need to train properly over the long term and see how their body responds. Your individual results will determine if you go for physique, classic bodybuilding, open bodybuilding, etc.

    • Omar

      leehayward,

      Thank you, yes indeed they should.

  • To me it is not worth it to have all that fat because I can’t live with something that ugly attached to my body so that I can’t run away from it like I can run away from other forms of physical what is squalor to me. Bodybuilding is about physical beauty, which offers some extra strength but not at such a terrible price a sumo wrestler pays to win.

  • You need a plan to achieve desirable body rather than body type. So, Made up your mind and start fighting for what you want.