Lili Reinhart talks body dysmorphia and fat arms

Lili Reinhart Wishes For 'Average Sized Arms' Amid CRAZY Body Dysmorphia & OCD

Home / Top Stories / Lili Reinhart Wishes For 'Average Sized Arms' Amid CRAZY Body Dysmorphia & OCD

By Rima Pundir on September 18, 2023 at 2:00 AM EDT

"Riverdale" star Lili Reinhart went candid with her body struggles on X (formerly known as Twitter), as she slammed Hollywood's pursuit of "thinness."

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Lili Reinhart Candidly Wishes For More "Average Sized Arms"

Lili Reinhart talks about her body dysmorphia
Instagram | Lili Reinhart

In a recent X post, Reinhart admitted how she wishes the industry would have more of less-skinny arms so she could stop obsessing over hers. Said the 27-year-old, "I wish there were more average sized arms represented in mainstream media for women. We’ve glamorized these skinny arms that, for most of us, can only be achieved if you’re a literal adolescent."

She also spoke about her body dysmorphia getting worse because of it, further writing, "My body dysmorphia has been going crazy because I feel like my arms need to be half the size they are currently?"

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For most fans, she's a stunning woman but then again, that's what body dysmorphia is. As per the Mayo Clinic, body dysmorphic disorder is defined as, "a mental health condition in which you can't stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance — a flaw that appears minor or can't be seen by others. But you may feel so embarrassed, ashamed, and anxious that you may avoid many social situations."

X users immediately jumped onto the comment stream, sharing similar feelings although admitting that Reinhart may have had it worse given that she faced the camera on a daily basis.

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One fan tried to make her feel good about herself, writing, "Honestly your arms are that for me. I literally have said “her arms are like mine!” Multiple times. Feels silly but it's one of those things I’ve always thought about and it’s so nice to see it on you. They’re just better for hugging."

Another gave her more a pictorial comment:

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Lili Reinhart Wants Women To Know They Are Not Alone

Lili Reinhart tells women they are not alone in body dysmorphia
Instagram | Lili Reinhart

While talking as candidly as she could, the "Hustlers" actress also wanted to tell women that they are not alone in looking at themselves differently than others as she wrote Tweeted in a follow-up post, "The amount of time I’ve wasted thinking about my arms in the last few months is insane. I wanted to throw my own thoughts out there to let other women know they aren’t alone."

that said, because she has been battling body dysmorphia and OCD, she further wrote, "I truly wonder how anyone survives or gets through this life without having severe BD. Maybe it’s a cruel amplified version in combination with my OCD, but damn."

Wrote one blown-away fan, "You’re so real for this! I feel the same exact way about my arms. I’m constantly comparing myself to others who are thinner than I am and wishing I looked like them."

Another wrote, "OMG, I needed this so bad thank you Lili. I generally love my body EXCEPT my arms, I think they’re average size, but then I freak out when I see girls online with such teeny arms! & that’s no hate against them at all, but it definitely is hard sometimes not to compare."

Here's Reinhart, looking stunning...

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Fans Love Her For Her Body Positivity

Fans appreciated Lili Reinhart for being so candid and truthful
Instagram | Lili Reinhart

Lili Reinhart has long been advocating for body positivity, and in 2018, she called out Cosmopolitan for digitally altering photos of her and her co-star Camila Mendes. Further, when some unflattering pictures of her sparked pregnancy rumors, she clapped back, calling them hurtful.

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Reinhart also spoke up against the celebrities who starved themselves to fit into dresses for events, saying, “The most-followed people on Instagram are skinny people who have abs, long legs, silky hair, and filled-in eyebrows. But then people really love it when I say, ‘It’s OK to not have a 24-inch waist and it’s OK to have pimples.’ But those same people are praising the people with images of flawless everything. Which side are you on?”

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One fan had her back, writing, "It's so tough to project body positivity and confidence when the rest of the world isn't making it easy to do so. But, you are so loved and appreciated and you aren't alone too either! Glad to always have you as my role model."

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