Consider knowing your body shape a screening tool like any other medical test. If you found out you carried a certain gene for cancer or that you had abnormally high cholesterol at a young age, you'd certainly want to do everything in your power to reverse the odds by eating healthily and exercising daily.

The same is true for body shape. If you've been given the apple shape, consider it a heads' up to lead a healthy lifestyle so that your apple body stays fit. If a pear is your lot, guard its positives and be careful not to let excess weight gain add the label apple on top of your pear. Our body shapes are ours to keep for a long time if we take care of ourselves properly.