What body type has curvy hips?

September 21, 2025 •

3 min read

According to styling experts, only about 8% of women have a true hourglass figure, a classic body shape known for its curves. However, both the hourglass and the pear are the most common body types featuring curvy hips, with distinct differences in how their weight is distributed.

Quick Summary

Both hourglass and pear body types are defined by curvy hips, though they differ significantly in proportion; an hourglass has balanced bust and hips with a narrow waist, while a pear shape carries most of its weight in the hips and thighs compared to a narrower upper body.

Key Points

Hourglass and Pear Shapes: Both the hourglass and pear are the most common body types featuring curvy hips, with distinct differences in proportions and fat distribution.
Hourglass Features: This body type is defined by balanced bust and hip measurements with a significantly narrower, well-defined waist.
Pear Shape Features: Characterized by hips and thighs that are wider than the shoulders and bust, with weight primarily stored in the lower half of the body.
Endomorph Somatotype: Many curvy individuals may also have an endomorph body composition, which typically includes wider hips and a propensity for storing fat.
Styling for Curves: To flatter curvy hips, emphasize a defined waist and use clothing to balance proportions. Pear shapes can draw attention upward, while hourglass figures can highlight their symmetry.
Health and Body Shape: The location of fat storage can impact health. Pear shapes, which carry fat in the hips, may have different health risk profiles compared to apple shapes, which carry more abdominal fat.
Genetics and Lifestyle: Body shape is largely determined by genetics, but diet and exercise can influence fat and muscle distribution over time.

Understanding the Most Common Body Types with Curvy Hips

While there is significant variation in human body shapes, two main classifications stand out for their characteristic curvy hips: the hourglass and the pear. These classifications, often used in fashion and fitness, help individuals understand their natural silhouette and how weight is distributed. However, it's crucial to remember that these are general guides, and many people have a combination of traits.

The Hourglass Body Type

Often considered the 'classic' curvy shape, the hourglass figure is defined by a balanced upper and lower body with a well-defined, narrow waist. Key characteristics include balanced bust and hips, a significantly narrower waist, and even weight distribution.

The Pear (or Triangle) Body Type

The pear shape is characterized by a narrower upper body compared to the lower body, with the hips and thighs being the widest part of the silhouette. Key characteristics include narrow shoulders, full hips, thighs, and buttocks, a defined waist, and weight gain predominantly in the lower body.

Endomorphs and Their Curvy Characteristics

Beyond the fashion-centric categories, the somatotype system classifies body composition into three types: ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph. The endomorph body type is associated with a rounder physique and a tendency to store fat easily, often in the hips and thighs. Endomorph traits include wider hips, a larger bone structure, a naturally slower metabolism, and a tendency to gain weight in the lower body.

Styling for Curvy Hips: Accentuating Your Silhouette

Understanding how to dress for your shape can enhance your natural features. The goal is to create balance and emphasize the parts of your figure you love most.

Styling for Different Curvy Shapes:

Hourglass: Emphasize the waist with belts or wrap styles. Choose form-fitting fabrics and maintain balanced proportions.
Pear: Balance the shoulders with details or patterns on the upper body. Elongate the lower body with darker bottoms and highlight the waist.

Health Considerations and Body Shape

How and where your body stores fat can affect your health. Fat in the hips and thighs (pear shape) is often considered less harmful than visceral fat around the midsection (apple shape). Regardless of shape, a healthy diet and regular exercise are crucial.

A Comparison of Pear vs. Hourglass Curvy Hips


Feature	Pear Body Type	Hourglass Body Type
Hips and Thighs	The widest part of the body.	Proportionate to the bust; less emphasis than a pear.
Shoulders	Narrower than the hips.	Aligned with the hips in width.
Waist	Defined, but may be visually less prominent than the hips.	Well-defined and significantly narrower than bust and hips.
Weight Gain	Primarily concentrated in the hips, thighs, and buttocks.	Distributed relatively evenly across the body.
Bust	Smaller or narrower in proportion to the hips.	Full and balanced with the hips.

Can Your Body Type Change?

Genetics primarily determine bone structure and overall shape. While you can't change your bone structure, diet, exercise, and aging can alter weight distribution and muscle tone. Body shape can change over time; for example, weight gain might alter a pear shape's fat distribution. A healthy lifestyle is key to managing body composition. For more information, the National Academy of Sports Medicine provides resources on body types and training.

Conclusion: Celebrating Your Curvy Hips

Having curvy hips is a beautiful characteristic found primarily in hourglass and pear shapes, often associated with the endomorph somatotype. Understanding your unique proportions and focusing on health through diet and exercise allows you to celebrate your natural curves with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference lies in proportions and weight distribution. An hourglass figure has balanced bust and hip measurements with a narrow waist, whereas a pear shape has wider hips than the bust and carries most of its weight in the lower body.

Not necessarily. The term 'endomorph' refers to a body composition type characterized by a softer, rounder physique and wider hips. While many individuals with curvy hips, like pear or hourglass shapes, may have an endomorph somatotype, body shapes are determined by bone structure and fat distribution, which can be influenced by lifestyle.

Yes, while your fundamental bone structure is genetic, your body's fat and muscle distribution can change due to aging, diet, and exercise. For example, weight gain or loss can alter your proportions, even if your underlying skeletal frame remains the same.

Body shape is not the sole determinant of health. However, studies show that storing fat in the abdominal region (common in apple shapes) is associated with higher health risks than storing it in the hips and thighs (common in pear shapes). Healthy diet and regular exercise are most important for all body types.

The best clothing accentuates your waist and balances your proportions. For pear shapes, this means drawing attention upward with patterned tops and wearing darker, well-fitting bottoms. For hourglass figures, highlighting the waist with belts or wrap styles is often recommended.

You can take your measurements. If your bust and hips are roughly the same width and your waist is significantly smaller, you likely have an hourglass figure. If your hips are notably wider than your bust and shoulders, you are likely a pear shape.

While body shape classifications are most often discussed in the context of female figures, men can also be categorized into somatotypes like endomorphs. An endomorphic man may carry more weight in the midsection and hips, though the specific 'pear' or 'hourglass' classifications are typically reserved for female body types.