You share the same hips and thighs, so why does your mom love her curves and you, well, not so much? Here, four women share their feelings about the figures they've inherited and their families' body history. How do you compare?
NICOLE, 25, ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR
MY BODY IMAGE IS CONSTANTLY changing. Just when I think I'm in control of how I feel about my looks, something changes my mind. Occasionally, for no good reason, I feel fat. The first time I remember worrying about my body was in 10th grade, when I thought fitting into the smallest-size jeans would broaden my social circle. I joined the track team and started working out twice a day. At the same time, I also stopped eating and dropped to 90 pounds (I'm 5'3"). Eventually, doctors diagnosed me with anorexia. Even though "eating disorder" wasn't part of my mother's vocabulary, she made a real effort to understand what I was going through. My issues are definitely not her issues: I never remember her dieting or making disparaging comments about her looks when I was growing up. With my mother's help (and by working with a therapist and nutritionist), I shifted my focus from being thin to being healthy. Unfortunately, you can't always control your health: Last August, my doctor found a malignant tumor on my thyroid. I've had two surgeries since, and I just completed a round of radiation treatments. If nothing else, my illness has taught me to be kinder to my body.
