What is your body shape and how common is it?

Apple shape is the most prevalent body shape among adult women in high-income countries, estimated at 55-60% in NHANES data. This represents a shift from previous decades: in the 1960s and 1970s, rectangular and pear shapes were more prevalent. The increase in apple prevalence tracks trends in central body composition that have occurred in most high-income populations over the same period. Among younger women (18-35), pear and hourglass shapes are more common relative to older cohorts, as central body composition distribution tends to increase with age. Body shape distribution data from the NCSU body scan study is compiled on the body statistics page.

Yes, significantly. Hormonal changes across the lifespan alter where the body stores composition. Women typically experience a redistribution from lower-body to central composition after menopause, driven by declining oestrogen levels. Men also tend to accumulate more central composition with age. This means many people who identify as pear or hourglass shaped in their 20s and 30s find their shape shifts toward rectangular or apple by their 50s and 60s. Resistance training and maintaining muscle mass with age can partially counteract this redistribution.

The WHO recommends measuring waist circumference at the midpoint between the lower rib and the top of the hip bone (iliac crest), typically level with the navel. The measurement should be taken at the end of a normal breath out, with the tape horizontal and snug but not compressing the skin. Common errors include measuring at the narrowest point (which is lower for some body types and higher for others), pulling the tape tight, or measuring over clothing. Hip circumference is measured at the widest point of the hips, typically at the level of the greater trochanter (the bony protrusion of the hip joint).

The WHO's 2008 technical report on waist circumference and waist-hip ratio sets elevated risk thresholds at WHR above 0.90 for men and above 0.85 for women, and substantially elevated risk at WHR above 0.95 for men and above 0.90 for women. These thresholds were established based on population studies showing associations with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. It is important to note that these are population-level screening thresholds, not individual diagnostic criteria. Many people above these thresholds have no metabolic issues, and many below them do. The WHO specifically states that WHR should be used in conjunction with other clinical information, not in isolation.

Fashion and style guides have long used body shape as a framework for clothing recommendations, aiming to create visual balance. The general principles are: pear shapes are typically advised to balance the lower body with more structured or detailed upper-body garments; inverted triangles to balance wide shoulders with fuller skirts or wider-leg trousers; rectangles to create the appearance of waist definition with belts or fit-and-flare silhouettes; hourglasses to emphasise the waist with fitted styles; and apple shapes to draw attention upward and use flowing fabrics through the midsection. These are guidelines rather than rules, and fit and personal style preferences should always take precedence over body-shape-based prescriptions.

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is calculated by dividing your waist circumference by your hip circumference. Measure your waist at the narrowest point (usually just above the navel) and your hips at the widest point (usually around the buttocks). For example, a waist of 28 inches and hips of 36 inches gives a WHR of 0.78. The World Health Organization uses WHR as a population-level indicator in metabolic health research. The WHO thresholds are WHR above 0.80 for women and above 0.90 for men as markers of elevated cardiovascular risk at the group level. WHR is straightforward to calculate at home and provides a different perspective from BMI, which does not account for where weight is distributed on the body. Source: WHO Technical Report on Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio, 2008.

The apple body shape, which indicates a higher concentration of weight around the midsection, is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk in population-level epidemiological studies. However, this is a statistical association observed across large groups, not an individual diagnosis. Many people with apple shapes are metabolically healthy, and many people with other shapes have health concerns. A large validation study (Cerhan et al., PMC3466911, approximately n=100,000) confirmed WHR as a meaningful predictor of cardiovascular risk at the population level, but the same research cautions against applying group-level thresholds to individuals. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management have a far larger impact on individual health outcomes than body shape classification alone. If you have concerns about your body composition and health, speak to a healthcare provider who can assess your individual situation.

The WHO defines healthy WHR ranges as below 0.80 for women and below 0.90 for men. Values above these thresholds are associated with higher cardiovascular and metabolic risk at the population level. However, these thresholds were developed as screening tools for large populations, not as diagnostic cutoffs for individuals. A WHR of 0.82 in a woman does not mean she is unhealthy; it means she falls slightly above the threshold used in epidemiological studies. The median WHR for US women is 0.83 according to NHANES 2017-2020, which means more than half of US women are above the WHO threshold. Context matters considerably more than the raw number, and no single measurement tells the full story of a person's health. Source: WHO 2008, NHANES 2017-2020, NCHS Data Brief No. 508.

For both men and women in the US, the apple body shape is the most common when classified by waist-to-hip ratio. Approximately 55-60% of US women and 50-55% of US men fall into the apple category based on NHANES 2017-2020 data. The rectangle shape is the second most common for men (25-30%), while pear and hourglass shapes combined are the second most common for women (approximately 25-30%). The inverted triangle shape is the least common for both sexes at around 5-10%. These figures are derived by applying standard WHR-based shape definitions to the NHANES distribution data and are consistent with the perception gap that most people underestimate how common apple shapes are. Source: NHANES 2017-2020, NCHS Data Brief No. 508.

The apple body shape is defined by a higher waist-to-hip ratio, meaning weight is concentrated around the midsection relative to the hips. The pear body shape has a lower WHR, meaning the hips are noticeably wider than the waist. For women, a WHR above 0.80 typically classifies as apple, while below 0.75 typically classifies as pear. The health research literature has focused more on the apple shape because central adiposity (abdominal fat) is more strongly associated with cardiovascular and metabolic risk markers than peripheral adiposity (hip and thigh fat) in population studies. Apple shapes are significantly more prevalent in the US adult population: approximately 55-60% of women versus approximately 20-25% classified as pear or hourglass. Both shapes are normal variations of human fat distribution. Source: WHO 2008, NHANES 2017-2020.