{
    "name": "Body Type Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/body-type-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/body-type-calculator.md",
    "category": "Health & fitness",
    "description": "Rate your body type as endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy with the Heath–Carter anthropometric method, using skinfolds, bone breadths and girths.",
    "summary": "The Heath–Carter somatotype describes physique with three numbers: relative fatness (endomorphy), musculoskeletal robustness (mesomorphy) and linearity (ectomorphy). It needs ten standard body measurements.",
    "also_called": [
        "Somatotype calculator",
        "Heath–Carter calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "height_cm",
            "label": "Height",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "175",
            "unit": "cm"
        },
        {
            "name": "weight_kg",
            "label": "Weight",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "72",
            "unit": "kg"
        },
        {
            "name": "triceps",
            "label": "Triceps skinfold",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10",
            "unit": "mm"
        },
        {
            "name": "subscapular",
            "label": "Subscapular skinfold",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "12",
            "unit": "mm"
        },
        {
            "name": "supraspinale",
            "label": "Supraspinale skinfold",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "8",
            "unit": "mm"
        },
        {
            "name": "calf_skinfold",
            "label": "Medial calf skinfold",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "7",
            "unit": "mm"
        },
        {
            "name": "humerus",
            "label": "Humerus (elbow) breadth",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "6.8",
            "unit": "cm"
        },
        {
            "name": "femur",
            "label": "Femur (knee) breadth",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "9.6",
            "unit": "cm"
        },
        {
            "name": "arm_girth",
            "label": "Flexed and tensed arm girth",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "33",
            "unit": "cm"
        },
        {
            "name": "calf_girth",
            "label": "Maximum calf girth",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "37",
            "unit": "cm"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "somatotype",
            "label": "Somatotype (endo-meso-ecto)",
            "format": "text"
        },
        {
            "key": "category",
            "label": "Somatotype category",
            "format": "text"
        },
        {
            "key": "endomorphy",
            "label": "Endomorphy",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "mesomorphy",
            "label": "Mesomorphy",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "ectomorphy",
            "label": "Ectomorphy",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "hwr",
            "label": "Height-weight ratio (HWR)",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "x",
            "label": "Somatochart X",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "y",
            "label": "Somatochart Y",
            "format": "number"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Endo = −0.7182 + 0.1451X − 0.00068X² + 0.0000014X³, X = (triceps + subscapular + supraspinale) × 170.18 ÷ H;  Meso = 0.858HB + 0.601FB + 0.188CAG + 0.161CCG − 0.131H + 4.5;  Ecto = 0.732HWR − 28.58 (HWR ≥ 40.75), 0.463HWR − 17.63 (38.25 < HWR < 40.75), else 0.1",
        "variables": {
            "H": "height in cm",
            "HB, FB": "humerus and femur breadths in cm",
            "CAG": "flexed arm girth − triceps skinfold ÷ 10 (cm)",
            "CCG": "calf girth − calf skinfold ÷ 10 (cm)",
            "HWR": "height ÷ cube root of weight",
            "X, Y": "somatochart coordinates: X = ecto − endo, Y = 2 × meso − (endo + ecto)"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "height_cm": "175",
            "weight_kg": "72",
            "triceps": "10",
            "subscapular": "12",
            "supraspinale": "8",
            "calf_skinfold": "7",
            "humerus": "6.8",
            "femur": "9.6",
            "arm_girth": "33",
            "calf_girth": "37"
        },
        "steps": [
            "X = 30 × 170.18 ÷ 175 = 29.17, so endomorphy = 2.97 ≈ 3.0.",
            "Mesomorphy = 0.858 × 6.8 + 0.601 × 9.6 + 0.188 × 32 + 0.161 × 36.3 − 0.131 × 175 + 4.5 = 5.04 ≈ 5.0.",
            "HWR = 175 ÷ ∛72 = 42.07, so ectomorphy = 0.732 × 42.07 − 28.58 = 2.21 ≈ 2.2.",
            "Mesomorphy dominates and endomorphy exceeds ectomorphy by more than half a unit: endomorphic mesomorph."
        ],
        "result": "These measurements give a somatotype of 3.0-5.0-2.2, an endomorphic mesomorph: predominantly muscular, with moderate fatness."
    },
    "interpretation": "Each component typically runs from about ½ to 7 or more. The category names which component dominates. A somatotype describes present physique; it changes with training, diet and age and is not a fixed genetic “type” or a health rating.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Measurements are taken by a trained measurer using ISAK-style landmarks, a skinfold caliper and a small sliding caliper for breadths.",
        "Adults and adolescents; ratings are reported to one decimal and the category uses those rounded values."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Skinfold measurement error, especially by untrained measurers, can move endomorphy by half a unit or more.",
        "Popular “body type” diet and training advice based on somatotypes is not supported by good evidence."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Can I use this without calipers?",
            "answer": "Not reliably. The endomorphy and mesomorphy equations need skinfolds and bone breadths; guesses give meaningless ratings. Ectomorphy depends only on height and weight."
        },
        {
            "question": "What do the X and Y numbers mean?",
            "answer": "They place your somatotype on the two-dimensional somatochart used in research: X = ectomorphy − endomorphy and Y = 2 × mesomorphy − (endomorphy + ectomorphy)."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [
        {
            "title": "Carter, J.E.L.: The Heath–Carter Anthropometric Somatotype, instruction manual",
            "url": "https://www.mdthinducollege.org/ebooks/Anthropometry/The_heath_Carter_anthropometric_somatotype.pdf"
        }
    ],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "BMI Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/bmi-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Body Surface Area Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/body-surface-area-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "TDEE Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/tdee-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": "This is a general screening estimate for adults, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Talk to a qualified health professional about your health.",
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}