Some modern toilets are set at "comfort height"

The Kohler company has a rather informative webpage entitled "How to shop for toilets."  Among the features to be considered (size, shape, water usage, flush technology) when making a purchase is the height of the seat from the floor.

Comfort Height toilets, approximately 2 inches taller than traditional toilets, make sitting down and standing up easier. Toilets that measure between 17 and 19 inches in height from the floor to the top
of the seat are considered Comfort Height toilets, whereas traditional toilets measure below 17 inches in height.

A quick web search yields lots of threads discussing the pros and cons of these higher toilets.  The user's height and a variety of health considerations can come into play (short people may be uncomfortable if their feet do not rest flat on the floor; conversely elderly or physically weak persons may find it easier to rise from the "comfort height" seat.  A column at Slate notes that "bathroom posture" (sitting vs. squatting) may (or may not) have an effect on defecation and on the health of one's nether region.