intro to body image

My name is amanda walker and i chose to take body image vs.reality because i think it will be very interesting. I think that every one struggles with at least one issue about thier body, and i hope this class might help me let go of some of the issues that i have. It will be very interesting to anylize these issues and see why we have such a hard time excepting ourselves. some issues are more pressing than others, like the issue of wieght. I think being over wieght is the biggest issue people have with thier bodies, even when they are a healthy wieght. Also, looking older is a big issue these days. People (usually women) will freak out over the slightest wrinkle or gray hair when getting older is inevitable. My expectations for this course are that i will have a great experience learning about these issues, and i will learn to except my body instead of rejecting it all the time. Five questions that i would like to answer for myself are:
1.) why is body image such a huge role in how we feel and think, why do people get depressed if they gain a couple pounds or get a few wrinkles?
2.) why do we judge people so much on the way they look? People do not choose to have a certain color hair, or be tall or short, or to be handicapped, or have freckles or moles, or have small breasts, or have bad teeth; this is just the way they are born and we make fun of them or think less of them.
3.) How can I learn to be comfortable with myself and just be happy?
4.) How can I help others to be happy with thierselves?
5.) why do certain people have issues that other people do not have?