Are eating disorders common in taller women?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think so. A tall woman can gain or lose 10 pounds without it being too noticeable. You can see 5 pounds on a short woman easily.

This, its way better to be tall.
My mom is 5'9" and has gained and lost the same 30 lbs all my life, bouncing around from 160 to 190 and yet never really looks all that different. Her butt gets a bit bigger or smaller. I'm 5'2" and if I gain even 5 lbs it's very obvious. I'd look like a blimp if I packed on 30 lbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are we supposed to be sitting on guy's laps? I missed that dating memo.

God, I hate sitting on anyone's lap. Not something I've ever wanted to do.

Yeah, Never. I still remember being 16 or 17 and my grandma insisting I sit on her lap in the car when there weren’t any seats left, I didn’t want to.
OP, decenter men from your life and focus on loving yourself.

[Anonymous]

Count me in as another woman who loves being tall. I love clothes and I do think aside from some pants hemming issues they work better on taller women. I love having long legs. And yes when I gain 5 lbs it’s not as noticeable.

[Anonymous]

I hear what you're saying OP but would also suggest that society is very judgemental and rude in general to overweight/obesity, and that is unfortunately considered a "problem" in a woman at any height.

That said, there is real truth in how confidence and ease is attractive, and doing whatever therapy, yoga, weight-lifting etc you need until you get to the place of feeling body-positive is really worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 5'10" and love it. I feel so lucky to be tall. I am sorry you see your height as such as negative. I don't think it has to be that way and would suggest putting some effort or therapy into reframing. I have never wanted to be small. There are so many obvious and practical reasons why it's better to be tall and strong. I like being approximately the same height and size as romantic partners.

True, very few men have lifted me off the ground but I don't see that happening a whole lot in life for anyone. It's just not a significant factor. Maybe watch old video clips of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman...

+1

There are huge professional advantages of being a taller woman - this wasn’t obvious to me until I was older and entering the workforce. I love being able to literally feel like I am on the same eye-to-eye level with the dudes at my work and I think extra height commands more respect.

It took me a while to get here mentally, though. I do have a history of an ED but, like another poster above, most of that is attributable to severe anxiety and self-esteem issues that needed professional attention (my mom is super short but has the same issues). You have to always find a way to work with whatever frame you have and see the positives.

I did competitive ballet growing up which compounded some of the early ED issues but I relapsed later even after quitting ballet and I just always have to manage the underlying anxiety to stay well. I’m actually glad now that I did ballet because it helps me carry myself upright and confidently as a taller woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think so. A tall woman can gain or lose 10 pounds without it being too noticeable. You can see 5 pounds on a short woman easily.

This, its way better to be tall.
My mom is 5'9" and has gained and lost the same 30 lbs all my life, bouncing around from 160 to 190 and yet never really looks all that different. Her butt gets a bit bigger or smaller. I'm 5'2" and if I gain even 5 lbs it's very obvious. I'd look like a blimp if I packed on 30 lbs.

I am 5’8 and this is me. I can gain at least 10-15 pounds and still look amazing. My sister is 5’5 and any extra weight on her looks really bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 5'10. I know I am not the tallest person in the world, but I am still taller than 99 percent of women. Being tall always made me feel massive during my teens and early/mid 20s unless I kept my BMI at 18 with a 25 inch waist. It feels like society only accepts tall women if we look like models. If we don't, people just see us as huge amazonian linebackers. I finally accepted my size now that I am in my 30s, but if I am being completely honest, a part of me is still bitter. I know I will never be small no matter how hard I try.
Most people focus on weight, but I really think height is what defines if a woman is big or small. Tall, skinny women might look statuesque, but we can never be dainty or delicate. A lot of cute romantic gestures just aren't an option because of my size. A guy is never going to easily carry me, and sitting on a guy's lap makes me feel like an overgrown dog. It is just way less cute. Short women still look delicate to me even if they are overweight because of their height and their smaller hands and feet. I recently discovered Kibbe and realized I am a Dramatic. I will be a big woman no matter my weight.

I have never sat on a guy's lap* or been carried - I'm a grown woman at 5'2", and that would.be patronizing/condescending.

* naked and otherwise engaged excluded

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 5'10" and love it. I feel so lucky to be tall. I am sorry you see your height as such as negative. I don't think it has to be that way and would suggest putting some effort or therapy into reframing. I have never wanted to be small. There are so many obvious and practical reasons why it's better to be tall and strong. I like being approximately the same height and size as romantic partners.

True, very few men have lifted me off the ground but I don't see that happening a whole lot in life for anyone. It's just not a significant factor. Maybe watch old video clips of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman...

+1 to all of this. I’m 5’9” and never once have worried about how cute I may or may not look sitting in a man’s lap. My teen DD is 5’11” and also loves being tall. Learn to love yourself, however you are.

Playing the hand you’re dealt is definitely the key. There’s nothing you can do to change it so learn to love it. Also, I find that I usually gravitate towards tall friends. I’m 5’8 and most of my friends are tall too.

[Anonymous]

My two tallest friends (5'9" and 5' 10") as a teenager were the only ones who didn't develop an eating disorder. The rest of us (5'2" to 5'6") did, to varying degrees of sickness.