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New
New
Year 11
AQA

Somatotypes

I can identify and describe the characteristics of ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph body types.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
AQA

Somatotypes

I can identify and describe the characteristics of ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph body types.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An endomorph is characterised by a higher percentage of body fat and a rounder body shape
  2. A mesomorph has a muscular and well-defined body with a natural ability to gain muscle
  3. An ectomorph is characterised by a slim, lean physique with minimal body fat and muscle
  4. Each somatotype has specific advantages for different types of sports or positions.

Keywords

  • Somatotype - a method of classifying body type

  • Ectomorph - a somatotype characterised by being tall and thin with narrow shoulders and narrow hips

  • Mesomorph - a somatotype, characterised by a muscular appearance with wide shoulders and narrow hips

  • Endomorph - a somatotype, characterised by a pear shaped body/fatness with wide hips and narrow shoulders

  • Body composition - the percentage of body weight which is fat and nonfat (muscle and bone)

Common misconception

Believing that individuals fit exclusively into one somatotype category rather than having a mix of characteristics.

Individuals can have a mix of characteristics from different somatotypes but can also change their somatotype depending on their lifestyle choices.


To help you plan your year 11 physical education lesson on: Somatotypes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Students may be asked to justify why different somatotypes are beneficial to different sports.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Identify the three types of health
social, mental, fitness
Correct answer: mental, physical, social
fitness, physical, social
mental, fitness, physical
Q2.
A lifestyle with no or irregular physical activity is known as a lifestyle.
Correct Answer: sedentary, sedentary lifestyle
Q3.
How is body composition measured?
1 minute press-up test
12 minute cooper run
Correct answer: Body Mass Index (BMI) test
30m sprint test
Q4.
Complete the sentences to identify four effects of a sedentary lifestyle on physical health.
Correct Answer:increased risk of coronary,heart disease
tick

heart disease

Correct Answer:decreased bone ,density
tick

density

Correct Answer:increased blood,pressure
tick

pressure

Correct Answer:loss of muscle,tone
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tone

Q5.
Which body shape is most likely to be a sumo wrestler?
An image in a quiz
a
b
Correct answer: c
all of them
Q6.
Match the bodies in the image the correct description.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:a,thin and lean
tick

thin and lean

Correct Answer:b,high proprtion of muscle
tick

high proprtion of muscle

Correct Answer:c,high proportion of body fat
tick

high proportion of body fat

6 Questions

Q1.
Which is not a somatotype?
endomorph
Correct answer: metomorph
ectomorph
mesomorph
Q2.
Which somatotype is identified in the image?
An image in a quiz
ectomorph
Correct answer: endomorph
metomorph
mesomorph
Q3.
Which somatotype has narrow hips and shoulders, long arms and legs and is thin and lean?
Correct answer: ectomorph
endomorph
metomorph
mesomorph
Q4.
Which somatotype has a high percentage of body muscle?
Correct Answer: mesomorph, mesomorphs, mesomorphic body, mesomorphic body shape
Q5.
Correctly identify the example to the somatotype
Correct Answer:metomorph,this is not a somototype
tick

this is not a somototype

Correct Answer:mesomorph,rugby union winger
tick

rugby union winger

Correct Answer:endomorph,rugby union prop
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rugby union prop

Correct Answer:ectomorph,1500m runner
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1500m runner

Q6.
Emily says that some people can fall into two types of somatotype because of their characteristics. Order the sentences to justify whether Emily is correct or incorrect.
1 - Emily is
2 - correct.
3 - This is because some athletes can have traits of
4 - two different somatotypes such as a
5 - heptathlete or netball player.
6 - Therefore anyone that disagrees with her is
7 - incorrect.