Mum's the word: The long and the short of developing a positive body image

WHEN I was younger I was really tall. I was always in the back of class photos, people would always comment on my size and I was really aware of being a ‘bigger kid.’ Up until the time my twin and I turned 15 or 16 I was a good few inches taller than her, so much so that no one thought we were the same age.

I was pretty scrawny as well and had the nickname of mommy-longlegs which I actually didn’t mind. I liked being that tall kid who could outrun other kids or do well in gym class. I was proud of it all until the about the age of 11 then I put on a bit of weight. I remember being concerned about it so something must have happened along the way to make me at times have negative associations with my appearance, as it does sadly for so many little girls and boys.