1. Somatotypes
DEFINTION: These are the different body shapes that you can classify people under.
There are 3 main somatotypes:
Endomorph: Tendency to put on fat, soft round shape, short limbs, wide hips. (sumo-wrestlers, shot-putters)
Ectomorph: Lean, fragile, narrow shoulders and hips, thin. (basketball players, high jumpers, Mr. Yates)
Mesomorph: High proportion of muscle, wide shoulders, large torso, heavy chest, big bones (rugby players, weight-lifters)
Somatotypes & Weight (GCSE PE: Unit 1.2.1)

2. Optimum Weight
DEFINITION: This is the weight at which an athlete performs their best in their chosen sport. It is the ‘correct’ weight someone should be for their height and gender.
Optimum weight can vary due to a number of factors:
HEIGHT: Taller people often weigh more than shorter people. Height can be an advantage in sports where you need to jump (high jump) or out-reach your opponent (basketball, volleyball).
GENDER: Males tend to have more muscle and therefore weigh more than females. This gives males an advantage over women in sports where strength and power are important (weight-lifting, rugby) and is often why men and women cannot compete together in these sports.
BONE STRUCTURE: Some people have longer or wider bones, meaning they have a higher bone density. Although stronger bones help to prevent injury, someone with a high bone density will be heavier than someone of the same height with a smaller bone structure.
MUSCLE SIZE: People with bigger muscles will weigh more. Bigger muscles are an advantage in sports that need muscular strength or power (boxing, American football).
Our weight can affect what sport we play as there is an optimum weight for most sports. For example, high jumpers will need to be light, basketball players often need to be tall and sumo-wrestlers need to be heavy.
Somatotypes & Weight (GCSE PE: Unit 1.2.1)

3. Weight-related Conditions
DEFINITION: If someone is too far below OR too far over their optimum weight, they are likely to suffer from a weight-related health condition.
If you are below your optimum weight you might suffer from:
ANOREXIA: People who suffer from this are severely underweight. They often refuse to eat as they are obsessed with losing weight. Effects: their body will lack nutrients and cause fatigue, dehydration, muscle atrophy (muscles getting smaller) and even death. They will not have the energy to take part in sport.
UNDERWEIGHT: This is people who do not weigh as much as expected for their height Effects: Again, they will often be be too weak to take part in physical activity. Their fitness and performance will decrease.
If you are above your optimum weight you might suffer from:
OVERWEIGHT: People weigh more than expected for their height. Effects: You can be overweight but not unhealthy. Rugby players who might be short and muscular will be classed as overweight because they weigh a lot and are small but they won’t have excess fat or be unhealthy.
OVERFAT: People who have more body fat that you should have. Effects: If you are over fat it can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
OBESE: Being very overfat. This is the heaviest and it is having a level of fat which is seriously unhealthy. Effects: This can lead to mobility issues, lack of flexibility, heart disease, diabetes and depression due to low self esteem.
Somatotypes & Weight (GCSE PE: Unit 1.2.1)