Body Type Diet

From LoveToKnow Diet

The Body Type Diet is an innovative approach to weight loss and maintenance that looks at an individual’s metabolism as the core factor in determining the best diet strategy to use. Metabolism is recognized by the person’s physical shape. The theory is that a person’s form indicates which glands in the body control her metabolic rate.

Metabolism

You are probably quite familiar with the notion of metabolic rate and its connection to the ability—or inability—to burn calories. The Body Type Diet suggests that you can determine which of four glands regulate your metabolism by looking at your figure. The metabolic glands are:

  • Thyroid
  • Adrenal
  • Gonadal
  • Pituitary

While each comes into play in the regulation of your metabolism, one is most influential. The dominant gland provides a foundation on which to build your diet plan. Women have four categories. Men have three:

  • Thyroid
  • Adrenal and Gonadal
  • Pituitary

While woman body type categories differ slightly from males, the same principals apply. Men can benefit from exploring the Men’s Page featured on the diet’s website.

Types of Bodies

The four body figures provide insight into where an individual tends to accumulate fat, energy levels and food cravings. The body shape may also correlate to certain personality traits as well.

Body Shape Characterisitcs
Dominant Gland Shape Cravings Energy Level
Thyroid high waist, long limbsstarch, caffeine, sweets high energy followed by crash
Adrenalslim hips, larger above the waist salt, fat, alcohol steady energy level, low energy at night
Gonads and Ovariespear shape, round bottom, slim top spicy, creamy or rich foods Strong, even energy level
Pituitarysmall, youthful figure dairy and sweetshigh energy in morning, low energy in evening

Addressing Needs

The different shapes indicate the specific trouble spots that each individual faces as well as the best approaches to addressing their needs.

Thyroid Types

Those who fall into the thyroid category usually have trouble spots that tend to accumulate fat.

  • Waist
  • Upper hips
  • Thighs

The approach that works best for these individuals should lessen cravings for sweet food and it should help increase energy levels and endurance for exercise.

Adrenal Types

Adrenal types have difficulty with certain areas of the body that tend to hold on to excess fat.

  • Upper back
  • Breasts
  • Stomach

People who fall into this category need help getting rid of belly fat. The approach should also increase flexibility and energy levels.

Gonadal Types

Problems areas for pear shaped figures mostly fall in the rear end with lesser accumulation around the outer thighs and hips. The program that suits this body type helps slim the bottom while addressing the tendency to eat too many creamy foods.

Pituitary Types

Weight gain is evenly spread throughout the body with some extra accumulation on the knees. These individuals benefit from a plan that increases energy levels and promotes strength.

The Body Type Diet

Developed by Elliot D. Abravanel, M.D., the plan Body Type Diet addresses the specific needs of people falling into the respective categories by creating programs catered to individual needs as determined by their physical characteristics. The physician noticed that some individuals responded well to certain diets but others on the same programs did not succeed.

The plan offers general guidelines to help people lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.

  1. Eat fewer foods that stimulate your dominant gland.
  2. Eat more foods that stimulate the sub-dominant glands.

It is a very simple concept that can pose some challenges. The ideal foods for each body type are outlined in the Body Type Lifetime Nutrition book.

Other Categories

Eating for your body type can also include determining your food intake according to three basic categories of physical attributes:

  • Endomorphs tend to carry extra weight in their legs, hips and buttocks.
  • Mesomorphs tend to gain weight around the waist.
  • Ectomorphs are in the minority, with figures that tend to be long and lean.

Whether you want to consider glandular activity or not are a crucial aspects of determining which weight loss and maintenance approach is best for you. It is important to remember that exercise is an important aspect as well, and you can maximize your results by exercising for your body type.

Optimum Nutrition

Before starting any weight loss plan, it is necessary to consult your physician to ensure that you are getting optimum nutrition for a healthy body, no matter what shape it is..



 


Comments

Hi Julie,

Your hysterectomy has thrown your body into menopause, and unfortunately with the hormonal changes going on, weight gain is often a side effect. I know that's not what you want to hear, but I figured we'd start there. You should talk to your doctor about options. Nutrition and exercise are 70% effective but sometimes other steps must be taken.

Donna

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

Help!! I had a hystorectmy and both ovaries removed. Gaining weight, body type is mosomphs. Not a big eater, work on my feet for 8 hours, I have never been this fat in my whole life...help!!

-- Contributed by: julie bagley

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