Intellectually, women know that: We are more than the sum of our physical parts The answers to life's problems can't be found in an "ideal" weight or body shape Our sense of personal and professional fulfillment shouldn't be determined by our dress size Still, too many of us remain caught up in the grim downward spiral of body image distress, overexercising, compulsive dieting, and obsessions about "good" and "bad" food. Meanwhile, many of us believe that eating disorders and body image issues are problems for adolescent girls, not for mature women. So we're often too ashamed to talk honestly with anyone about our dilemma. Now there is hope. Clinical psychologist Margo Maine has been successfully helping women over thirty overcome eating disorders and body image problems for more than twenty years. In The Body Myth, she explains the terrible toll these problems can take on your life. More importantly, she provides healing insights and proven techniques for reclaiming your life—or the life of someone you love—from the debilitating belief that a woman's self-worth and her worth to others are derived from how she looks, how much she weighs, and what she eats—our culture's Body Myth. With the help of poignant real-life stories from women of various ages and walks of life, Dr. Maine explores the complex emotional, social, and cultural forces that perpetuate the Body Myth. She describes the dynamics of how and why it seduces so many otherwise sensible women into self-loathing, destructive behaviors, and unhealthy relationships with food and the body. A unique and invaluable source of information and inspiration, this breakthrough guide equips everyone with the knowledge and tools to find release from the clutches of the Body Myth and live a more balanced, fulfilling life.