Body Shape Types

Overview

Body shape arises from skeletal structure, muscle mass and the distribution of adipose (fat) tissue. Writers can use body-shape cues to convey health, movement and character, but there is no single "ideal"—preferences change across cultures and time. See anthropometry and fat_distribution.

Adipose tissue is hormonally active and its distribution is influenced by genetics, sex hormones (especially oestrogen), and life events such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause. These factors affect both appearance and health.

Main Types

Hourglass: Balanced bust and hips with a narrow waist. See body_types/hourglass_body_shape.md.
Pear (Gynoid / Spoon): Hips wider than bust and shoulders; fat concentrated on the lower body. See body_types/pear_body_shape.md and hips.
Apple (Android): Fat concentrated around the abdomen and waist with slimmer hips and thighs. Associated with higher metabolic risk. See body_types/apple_body_shape.md.
Rectangle (Straight / Athletic): Bust, waist and hips similar in width; minimal curves. See body_types/rectangle_body_shape.md.
Inverted Triangle: Broad shoulders and/or bust with narrower hips and thighs. See body_types/inverted_triangle.md.

Measurement & Classification

Anthropometry: The discipline of measuring body proportions; used to classify shapes and track changes. See anthropometry.
Waist–Hip Ratio (WHR): Simple ratio of waist to hip circumference used in research and clinical contexts. Lower ratios (around 0.7) are often culturally associated with attractiveness, but this varies widely. See waist_hip_ratio.

Health, Sexuality & Culture

Body shape correlates with some health risks (for example, central adiposity—an "apple" shape—associates with higher cardiovascular and metabolic risk). Cultural ideals influence which shapes are eroticised or praised, but these ideals are neither universal nor immutable. See cultural_ideals and body_confidence.

Sexuality: different shapes can be sources of desirability and confidence; writers should respect individual variation and avoid implying a single shape is inherently superior.

Psychological & Social Aspects

Body image is shaped by personal experience, media and social context. Positive or negative body image affects confidence and relationships. Be mindful of stigma and the "halo effect" when describing characters: attribute personality through behaviour and agency rather than solely through body shape. See self_image.

Developmental Changes

Body shape changes across the lifespan. Key milestones affecting female body shape include: adrenarche, gonadarche, thelarche, pubarche, the pubertal_growth_spurt and menarche. Pregnancy and menopause also produce characteristic redistributions of fat and changes in body contours. See developmental_changes.

Writing Tips

Use shape to suggest movement and posture: show how clothes sit, how someone moves, or how weight shifts under touch.
Avoid value judgements: describe rather than moralise; use sensory detail (texture, temperature, tension) not judgement.
Be anatomically plausible: reference proportions and simple measurements where it matters (use centimetres for explicit measures).
Highlight variability: acknowledge that sensitivity, preference and health differ between individuals.
Link to character: let body shape inform habits, hobbies or health history rather than being the whole character.

Example

"Her shoulders filled the doorway, the lines of her body tapering to slim hips — a geometry that made her look both formidable and elegant."

Why it works: concise image + implied movement; shape conveys presence without reducing character to measurements.