Two Distinct Body Shapes Are Involved In Obese People -Apple Or Pear

Millions of people world-wide, including children, are obese. A person with an apple shaped body has fat deposits primarily around the waist and lower back. A pear shaped person has fat deposits in the hips, butt and upper thighs.

Although both shapes pose health risks, the apple shaped person has the greater risk. Fat around the abdominal area is metabolically active. Hidden deep below the surface is fat which surrounds the liver and other organs. This type of fat is called 'visceral.' The pear shaped person has 'subcutaneous' fat. This fat is located just below the skin.

The best way to determine body type or shape is by a waist-to-hip measurement. Measure the waist with a flexible tape measure. Next measure the hips. Divide the waist measurement by the hip measeurement. If the number is below 0.8 it indicates a pear shape. If the number is 0.8 or greater it indicates an apple shape.

A man's waist-to-hip measurement should be 1.0 or less. Generally speaking, women are pear-shaped and men are apple-shaped. The typical 'beer-bellied' or 'beer-gut' man is apple-shaped. As with anything else though, there are exceptions.