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.

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.