Constitution type

Constitution type or body type refers to a type of physique from any empirically or theoretically derived classification system or typologies. The systems are believed to provide some guidance to creating medical, nutritional, psychotherapeutic, or exercise programs for the person so classified. The classification systems include:

• Humours (Ayurveda)
• Somatotype of William Herbert Sheldon
• Paul Carus's character typology
• Ernst Kretschmer's character typology
• Elliot Abravanel's glandular metabolism typology

In the case of certain medical disorders, there are well-established links between body characteristics and susceptibility. The value of the general typologies is not as well established despite their long histories.

See also

• Habitus
• Phrenology
• Physiognomy