Are You Apple Shaped or Pear Shaped?- Dress for Your Body Type

Published by Lisanne on Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at 9:13 AM.

Body shape is for all intents and purposes not something that anyone has control over. It is determined according to what area of the body fat is stored and this is not the same for every person. The human body can be broken down into two basis types of shapes for women. These have come to be compared to fruits- there are apple shaped people and pear shaped people. What this refers to is the different ways that fat distributes itself on a body frame. For example women who are apple shaped have a tendency to develop body fat in their midsections, which is predominantly the abdominal area and the waist whereas pear shaped women develop fat lower on their bodies which includes their buttocks, hips and thigh areas. This also has an effect on the way fat is metabolized and therefore the overall health of a person. Some women are not strictly apple or pear shaped but fall somewhere in between. These women are sometimes referred to as being avocado shaped.

Genetics plays a role in which body shape a person will develop but so do other factors such as age and gender. To use an example, plenty of females put on fat in their buttocks and hips which give them a pear shaped figure. After a woman has gone through menopause her body has less of the hormone estrogen and therefore it is common for her to put fat on around her middle, which would cause her to become more apple shaped in form.

Researchers have long wondered if there is a difference in apple shaped versus pear shaped when it comes to a risk of heart problems. More and more studies are ongoing but it has been discovered that those with apple shapes due to the fat accumulated around their middle section are more likely to become obese than pear-shaped people who put on weight lower on their bodies. Heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer are also more common in apple shaped women whereas pear shaped females are more likely to develop varicose veins, cellulite, osteoporosis and a variety of eating disorders. Apple shaped women are also more inclined to develop depression and anxiety disorders, irregularities in their menstrual cycles and problems conceiving. Pear shaped women tend to have lower levels of self-esteem and view their bodies in a more negative manner than do apple shaped women. Menopause tends to affect pear shaped women worse than their apple counterparts.

To determine your waist-to-hip ratio and decide if you are an apple or a pear in shape, simply take your waist measurement and divide it by your hip measurement. Women who have waist-to-hip ratios of 0.8 or higher are apple shaped and those lower are pear shaped. The waist-to-hip ratio (or hip-waist ratio) is sometimes also called trunk fatness.

The fat stored in the abdomen and waist area of an apple shaped woman is known as visceral fat or intra-abdominal fat (IAF) and this fat is stored deep in the body and it surrounds many organs. Fat in this area contributes to such problems as an increase in the level of blood sugar as well as inflammation. Pear shaped women on the other hand have what is known as subcutaneous fat which is more passive fat and this fat is immediately stored as energy that is released only in the case of childbearing or breastfeeding. Be aware that no one can alter their body shape but they can strive to be as healthy as possible. In other words, an apple shape cannot become a pear shape and vice versa.

Women who are apple shaped should reach for skirts and pants that are straight cut and should steer clear of any clothing that is extremely fitted or tailored. In particular this means staying away from anything that draws attention to the midsection of the body such as very wide and/or well defined waist bands.

Monochromatic outfits are best which means all one color, as opposed to mixing and matching a variety of colors. Monochromatic helps to decrease the look of width and emphasizes the length of the body instead. Apple shaped women should always wear tops that serve to cover their hips and their tops should be worn over pants that are tapered and that flatter the look of slimmer legs which is common in apple shaped women. Shorter skirts are more appealing on apple shapes than are longer skirts as they draw attention to the lower body and the slimmer parts of the body. Opt for light colored pantyhose such as the color nude which will help to keep the focus on your legs. Apple shaped women should not wear clothing with pockets, especially when it comes to their tops because pockets can have an unflattering look that draws attention to the top heavy portion of a female body. Two famous apple shaped bodies are Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones and the lovely Elizabeth Hurley.

Pear shaped women should choose both pants and skirts that feature flat fronts or are softly pleated as these kind of garments place emphasis on waist areas that are well defined and this is what you want. Hipster trousers are an excellent choice as these types of pants will do away with the problem of a gaping waist that is very common to women who have the pear shape. The most flattering styles for pear shaped women are A-line skirts and A-line wraps as these type of clothing call attention to a small waist while also slimming the hip area. Skirts that are short or tight are not recommended for pear shaped women as they will bring focus to the top portion of the thighs and will also divert attention to the area you do not want, which is below the waist.

Pear shaped women should avoid pants or skirts that are light in color and instead stick with the color black, as well as darker shades of browns and blues that will help to adequately absorb the light. Make an effort to accentuate the top half of your body by wearing tops that draw the eye upward such as fitted garments that have nice colors and patterns. As well choose tops with beautiful and very becoming necklines. Do not opt for baggy tops that fall well below the waist and hips but choose tops that at the top parts of the hip area so the waist will stand out.

Pear shaped women can do a lot with accessories. They should choose both scarves and jewellery that keep the attention away from their buttocks, hips and thighs and bring the attention upward. Two famous pear shaped women are English actress Kate Winslet and Emma Bunton (better known as Baby Spice, the youngest member of the band the Spice Girls).


Source: http://www.fashblog.com/2006/12/are-you-apple-shaped-or-pear-shaped.html