Say you’ve got wide hips. Or narrow shoulders. Or a potbelly.

And you want your body shape to be different. You're not alone. It's common for teenagers to feel awkward in their growing bodies.

Is it possible to change the way you look through diet and exercise?

Well – yes and no.

Experts say that health eating and staying fit will definitely make your body look better. But recent research also shows that there’s only so much you can do to change the basic shape of your body – because much of the way you look is due to genetics.

So, if your mom has big hips, or your dad has narrow shoulders, or everyone in your family has a belly – that might be your appearance also. Even a tendency toward obesity can be inherited.

But there’s debate about just how much genetics figures into the way teenager’s bodies look. Scientists are still trying to determine whether family members tend to have similar body shapes mostly because of genetics, or mostly because their lifestyles are similar – for example, if family members eat the same foods and get the same sorts and amounts of exercise.

It’s worth thinking about. Does your family eat a lot of pasta? Not a lot of veggies? Maybe that’s how you eat, too. If you change those habits, and eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, you can maintain a normal weight for your natural body shape.

Heredity Cues

Recent studies show a possible genetic link between certain brain cells and why some people feel full faster than others after a meal. So even the smallest things could be inherited from your family.

It’s the same with exercise. If your family’s big on watching TV instead of taking walks after dinner, you might have those same tendencies. But if you get up off the couch, you’ll burn calories – just like anyone else.

One recent study found that up to 80 percent of body shape is inherited. Another tagged the percentage at only 35 to 40 percent. The jury is still out on just how much our family tree is to “blame” for the way we look.

One study of identical twins – who of course are similar genetically – found that if one twin did more exercise, he or she had a lower body mass index than the twin who doesn’t get as much exercise. BMI is a health measure of weight based on several factors and is used as a screener for teens to see where they fall along the underweight to overweight range.

One thing to remember: your overall body shape is as much a part of you as your eye color, your height, or the size of your nose. Wide hips and narrow shoulders can’t magically morph in the opposite direction. But with good exercise and eating habits, you can have the body that is just right for you. It’s up to you!

This article was reviewed by BodiMojo expert Roberto Olivardia, Ph.D.