How do you respectfully describe body types?

Characters are as diverse as the writers who write about them, but when it comes to describing them, it can be very easy to default to what we know or to succumb to clichés or stereotypes. This can be especially challenging when describing characters’ bodies. When you need to describe body types, it’s really important to strike a balance between being specific and respectful while avoiding harmful stereotypes or vague descriptions.

Why description matters

Description is essential to really bring a reader into a scene and connect with the characters you’re writing about. Physical descriptions help readers visualise characters, which, in turn, can influence story dynamics. Body descriptions can reveal a lot about a character and even affect the way that other characters interact with them. Like people in real life, the way we look influences both who we are and how we interact with the world. 

As a personal example, I am quite short, but I have very long limbs. This gives me the illusion of being tall. Consequently, I am often asked by people taller than me to help them get things down from high shelves because they perceive me as taller than I am. This is a common interaction in my life that has changed the way I dress and carry myself. You probably have similar anecdotes in your own life, which is why building those descriptions into your characters can be such a great way to really make them feel real. How a character looks is not all they are, but it does help create a well-rounded sense of character if we get a feel for how they interact with the world around them.

General guidelines to describe body types

Thoughtful representation matters in modern writing. Descriptions should exist to make your characters feel like people and not like stereotypes. To achieve this, you must:

• Focus on relevant details that serve the story — don’t just describe a person’s body because you feel you need to. Everything, even character description should exist to serve the story.
• Avoid loaded terms or judgmental language.
• Use specific, relevant details rather than general statements for the sake of it. 
• Consider the character’s own perspective of their body instead of only through the eyes of other characters.
• Include dynamic descriptions that show how the character moves and interacts with their environment to give a sense of who they are instead of info-dumping a description.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Don’t make a character’s body type a central part of your narrative if it isn’t plot-relevant.
• Don’t rely on stereotypes or clichés.
• Avoid using food-related metaphors, as they’re often problematic.
• Don’t make assumptions about health or lifestyle based on appearance. Only include this information if it is relvant to the story you’re telling and you’ve researched and fact-checked to ensure its accuracy.
• Don’t over-focus on your character’s body as a defining character trait.
• Don’t use derogatory or outdated terminology.
• Don’t over-describe body type to avoid saying what you mean. Fat and skinny aren’t dirty words. Short and tall don’t have an implicit bias. You can be direct. In fact, it’s often better to be direct in your description than to labour over someone’s body in minute detail.

Effective techniques to incorporate body types in the narrative

• Describe clothing and style choices.
• Show how the character navigates their environment and how their personality shines through movement.
• Consider cultural and historical context.
• Include relevant occupational influences on physique or vice versa.
• Reference genetic or familial physical traits when relevant.
• Include distinctive characteristics or style choices that aren’t related to their body type.
• Note how the character’s appearance changes in different situations (i.e., dressed up or casual, at home or at work).
• Focus on functional strength and capability outside of their body type.
• Consider historical context if writing historical fiction and be aware of changing beauty standards.
• Avoid cultural stereotypes and generalisations.
• Don’t make a character’s body the centre of their story if it’s not relevant to the plot.
• Use precise, specific language – don’t beat around the bush. Say what you mean.
• Choose words that match the tone of your story.

Describing body types doesn’t have to be a minefield. Writing a character respectfully doesn’t require any more technical knowledge than simply writing them like a real person. While description is important for reader immersion, it’s also not something you need to focus on in too much detail if it’s not relevant to the plot. 

Describe body types in a way that serves your story. Every character’s physical description should contribute to their overall characterisation and your story’s themes, and never distract from it. Physical description is just one aspect of character development, so the most respectful way to describe a character’s body type is to make it a natural part of who they are and not the focus.