_Body Build: Endomorph_
1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %
Fiji I 260 32 334 42 126 15 46 6 33 4 12 1 811
Interior 49 32 66 43 26 17 5 3 6 4 1 1 153
East 30 25 54 45 21 18 5 4 8 7 1 1 119
Coast 77 37 82 39 28 13 10 5 8 4 3 1 209
N.W. 26 33 34 43 9 11 6 8 2 3 2 3 79
_Body Build: Mesomorph_
1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %
Fiji I 1 {0.1} 2 {0.2} 33 4 131 16 227 28 419 52 813
Interior 0 0 1 1 11 7 27 18 41 27 73 48 153
East 1 1 0 0 2 2 14 12 38 32 65 54 120
Coast 0 0 0 0 9 4 29 14 67 32 104 50 209
N.W. 0 0 1 1 2 3 15 19 14 18 47 59 79
_Body Build: Ectomorph_
1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %
Fiji I 351 43 195 24 110 14 88 11 68 8 1 {0.1} 813
Interior 54 35 56 37 13 8 15 10 15 10 0 0 153
East 49 41 33 28 15 13 12 10 11 9 0 0 120
Coast 84 40 51 24 36 17 18 9 19 9 1 1 209
N.W. 39 49 19 24 11 14 6 8 4 5 0 0 79
Variations in body build have been expressed with the Sheldon method of
somatotyping.[18] Accordingly, the Fijians are primarily and definitely
mesomorphic, with endomorphy the second strongest component, and
ectomorphy, third. About 80 per cent of the total series had a
mesomorphic rating of 5 and 6 which leaves no doubt as to the
prevailingly athletic physique. Endomorphy is seldom pronounced so that
obesity may be described as no more than occasional. A pronounced linear
build is likewise relatively infrequent.
The Fijian subgroups do not vary markedly from the over-all pattern.