Explanation on Phenotypes: What Makes a Mesomorph a Mesomorph?
The term phenotype is defined as “The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.” (dictionary.com). Ones body type/structure can be placed in three phenotypes:
• Ectomorph—Naturally skinny, narrow bone structure, has a hard time gaining weight.
• Mesomorph—Naturally built, broad shoulders, can gain or lose weight relatively equally.
• Endomorph—Naturally heavy, wide bone structure, gains weight easily.
There is a clear visible physical distinction between the three phenotypes, but what is not visible and often ignored is the biochemical and metabolic differences between the three phenotypes.
Mesomorphs tend to be in the middle when it comes to metabolic rate. While ectomorphs struggle to gain weight and endomorphs have trouble gaining too much weight (specifically fat:muscle ratio), mesomorphs seem to have the best of both worlds; they can gain muscle with limited fat gains. Mesomorphs naturally have more muscle than ectomorphs and have better insulin sensitivity than endomorphs, which makes it
easier for them to gain more muscle and less fat when eating a hypercaloric diet.
In order to create a diet that allows an mseomorph to maximize lean mass gains while keeping fat gains to a minimum, one must understand the metabolic reasons that cause mesomorphs to gain fat. As stated in the introduction, these metabolic causes of fat gain were discussed in my Bulking for Endomorphs book, but will be re-examined here. There are some differences in my recommendations for mesomorphs vs. endomorphs, but a lot is the same.
• Ectomorph—Naturally skinny, narrow bone structure, has a hard time gaining weight.
• Mesomorph—Naturally built, broad shoulders, can gain or lose weight relatively equally.
• Endomorph—Naturally heavy, wide bone structure, gains weight easily.
There is a clear visible physical distinction between the three phenotypes, but what is not visible and often ignored is the biochemical and metabolic differences between the three phenotypes.
Mesomorphs tend to be in the middle when it comes to metabolic rate. While ectomorphs struggle to gain weight and endomorphs have trouble gaining too much weight (specifically fat:muscle ratio), mesomorphs seem to have the best of both worlds; they can gain muscle with limited fat gains. Mesomorphs naturally have more muscle than ectomorphs and have better insulin sensitivity than endomorphs, which makes it
easier for them to gain more muscle and less fat when eating a hypercaloric diet.
In order to create a diet that allows an mseomorph to maximize lean mass gains while keeping fat gains to a minimum, one must understand the metabolic reasons that cause mesomorphs to gain fat. As stated in the introduction, these metabolic causes of fat gain were discussed in my Bulking for Endomorphs book, but will be re-examined here. There are some differences in my recommendations for mesomorphs vs. endomorphs, but a lot is the same.
Comments
Post a Comment