Personal Empowerment/ Women and our Body Image Issues

I have just begun a search for women who have suffered from a list of:
-eating disorders
-binge eating
-overeating
-body image issues
-obsession with food or exercise

And wow did I have a huge response!

Why is this such a prevailing issue in our culture? If you think about it, it is really insane. Imagine a tree comparing its trunk as being larger or fatter or wider than another tree? Our body is a part of nature and is beautiful and perfect as it is, and yet, even as obvious as this appears we still suffer some of us for a lifetime with this issue.

I myself struggled for many years with all of the above listed issues plus some and now feel compelled to find answers to this pain, shame, and self abuse that is pervasive in our culture.

I would love to hear from you!

What is your story and how have you found personal empowerment or are still striving for it...because that is the light at the end of this dark tunnel.

We are all perfect and special as we are and our vehicles are really divine gifts and miraculous for all they can acheive and yet until we drop the outer superficiality we will never be able to know or appreciate the gift of our bodies.