The Body Type program asserts that there are four major glands in the human body (pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal) and that each individual has one "dominant gland". Ann Louise Gittleman stated that Abravanel developed these ideas as an expansion of speculations by Henry G. Bieler and noted that this was done, "Without directly monitoring the behavior of any gland ..."[2] According to Abravanel, men can be P-types, T-types, or A-types, based on the dominant gland, and women can be P-types, T-types, A-types or G-types (only women can be G-types due to the purported overall influence that a woman's sexual glands can have on her body). An individual's dominant gland is claimed to influence his or her body shape, and the glandular secretions that purportedly influence personality, sleeping schedule, metabolic activity, and other characteristics. Certain foods and exercises are claimed promote or inhibit activity among one or more glands, and Abravanel asserts that people tend to feed their dominant gland first and foremost.
Through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes, the Body Type system claims to enable an individual to move into greater balance, purportedly providing that person with greater energy reserves and a more balanced personality allegedly leading to less stress and increased overall effectiveness.