Ladies-Do you feel less safe?

Yep.but she suggested I reach out to other women who have also lost a lot of weight and hear about how they feel as well.

I think that you and others who share your fear are speaking of never feeling safe. It's not about predators. At least, I would hope it isn't they will always be out there. The good news is that there are more good people around than there are the other kind. Is it remotely possible that that is the foundation of your fears? Maybe, just maybe? If you take a hard look at what you've been writing in this topic, you'll see fear of venturing into life. That's a lousy feeling to live with and not what you lost weight for. You can work on getting past it by taking small steps in logical sequence. I'm glad you're working with a therapist and hope that you'll keep posting with your progress. It will be a pleasure to read about it.

I totally get this feeling. A few years ago I lost over 100 lbs and although I was confident in most areas of my life I felt that I was more suseptable to attacks. I have never been violated, I get that it is unlikely to happen, but they were my fears. I also felt this way when I was carring my children. I felt like i had more to protect. This can be normal as long as it dosn't provent you from living.

I've heard that saying before, "Fat people are harder to kidnap" But I think that's wrong. Skinny people can run farther, and fight harder for a longer period of time and are more likely to be able to get away. Consider taking some self defense classes to make yourself feel safer.

I am a rape survivor. I gained a lot of weight after my experience, largely due to a need to create a shield and as a coping device (Binge Eating Disorder) --

I have never had a problem with getting attention from men. Fat, thin, morbidly obese, young, old -- but there is little argument that the attention is far more intense now.

I never feel safe and this is definitely a feeling that I struggle with greatly. Of course, I can't let that fear keep me from living -- I have a very active professional life, work in two major cities (both of which are considered "dangerous") -- and have traveled all over the world.

I am also not cowering in fear or living in solitude -- but for me to deny that it's not constantly a low-grade stressor in my life, would be a lie.

BTW, I was young, healthy, not in a "risky" situation (unless you call attending high school as an honor student a risky act...) and had professional training in self-defense when I was brutally attacked, raped and left for dead.

I think it's important for other women to realize that "avoiding risky situations" or the implication that there's a way to really prevent being a victim is really just a form of taking responsibility for something that isn't ours to take. The only way to prevent rape is for MEN TO STOP RAPING. End of story.

"The only way to prevent rape is for MEN TO STOP RAPING. End of story."

A-freaking-men.

This. I had a similar experience. Eating was a defense mechanism to help with someof the pain I had experience. Consequently, I gained weight. The pain being done to me stopped. In all likelyhood, the man probably stopped hurting me because as I grew older I was no longer his "type". But I associated with my weight gain. My fat became my shield

you seem incredibly wise and strong.

EXACTLY!

Amen.

you Berry Sister.

I wish this didn't resonate so well with not only me but most women and our experiences with the gen pop of the the male gender.