Body checking is a compulsive behaviour related but not exclusive to various forms of

body dysmorphic disorder Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), also known in some contexts as dysmorphophobia, is a mental disorder defined by an overwhelming preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one's physical appearance. In BDD's delusional variant, the flaw is imagined ...

s. It involves frequently collecting various information about one's own body in terms of size, shape, appearance or weight. Frequent expressions of this form of behaviour entails for example mirror checking, trying to feel one's own bones, pinching the abdomen, frequent body weight measurement and comparing one's own body to that of others. Studies have shown that an increased rate of body checking correlates with an overall increased dissatisfaction with the own body.

Characteristics

Compulsive body checking can be observed in many forms. Some of the more common signs are: * Constant weighing * Constantly checking oneself in the mirror * Recording bodily changes * Measuring body parts * Comparing the body to other peoples bodies Compulsive body checking behaviors are considered to overly emphasize the importance of one‘s body and its

shape A shape is a graphics, graphical representation of an object's form or its external boundary, outline, or external Surface (mathematics), surface. It is distinct from other object properties, such as color, Surface texture, texture, or material ...

, which often occurs as a symptom in people with

obsessive–compulsive disorder Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder in which an individual has intrusive thoughts (an ''obsession'') and feels the need to perform certain routines (''Compulsive behavior, compulsions'') repeatedly to relieve the dis ...

and

eating disorder An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that adversely affect a person's health, physical or mental health, mental health. These behaviors may include eating too much food or too little food. Types of eatin ...

s like

anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa (AN), often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by Calorie restriction, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin. Individuals wit ...

and

bulimia nervosa Bulimia nervosa, also known simply as bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating (eating large quantities of food in a short period of time, often feeling out of control) followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-indu ...

. Checking behaviors are common among those groups, because body checking temporarily induces stress relief and thereby reinforces the habit. In the long term it contributes to increased overall body dissatisfaction and can prevent full recovery.

Components

Cognitive

People who engage in body checking tend to have discrepancies between their own body ideals and their subjective representation of their bodies. The desired body ideals are created by comparing oneself to other people and making upward comparisons. These upward comparisons are often perpetrated by the use of

social media Social media are interactive technologies that facilitate the Content creation, creation, information exchange, sharing and news aggregator, aggregation of Content (media), content (such as ideas, interests, and other forms of expression) amongs ...

, where it is easy to find pictures of one's desired body. Since social media pictures are often edited and people try to present themselves perfectly, body ideals are often very extreme and impossible to achieve. Additionally, people with

eating disorders An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that adversely affect a person's health, physical or mental health, mental health. These behaviors may include eating too much food or too little food. Types of eatin ...

have a disturbed image of their body, subjectively perceiving themselves as less attractive than they are.

Affective

A negative image about one's own body is linked to several negative feelings or emotions, such as

anxiety Anxiety is an emotion characterised by an unpleasant state of inner wikt:turmoil, turmoil and includes feelings of dread over Anticipation, anticipated events. Anxiety is different from fear in that fear is defined as the emotional response ...

(of being judged about one's body),

shame Shame is an unpleasant self-conscious emotion often associated with negative self-evaluation; motivation to quit; and feelings of pain, exposure, distrust, powerlessness, and worthlessness. Definition Shame is a discrete, basic emotion, d ...

(about your own body),

anger Anger, also known as wrath ( ; ) or rage (emotion), rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong, uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt, or threat. A person experiencing anger will often experie ...

/ aggression (at yourself or others for looking the way they look) and

fear Fear is an unpleasant emotion that arises in response to perception, perceived dangers or threats. Fear causes physiological and psychological changes. It may produce behavioral reactions such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the ...

(of becoming even less attractive). Self-objectification theory can be used to explain these affective responses. People with body image disturbances often look at themselves from a third-person view, reducing their self-worth to the way they look. If their appearances do not match their expectations some or all of the above emotions can be experienced.

Diagnosis

Body checking becomes problematic when it causes distress, has a negative impact on a person’s mood, causes withdrawal from social interactions, when it disrupts someone's daily functioning at work or outside of it. This can lead to an

or the worsening of an existing one. A healthcare provider can offer treatment recommendations to help with uncontrollable body checking behavior. The diagnostic assessment for body checking includes asking about personal and family medical history and performing a physical exam. The healthcare provider can refer the person to a

psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and explanation, interpretatio ...

psychiatrist A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry. Psychiatrists are physicians who evaluate patients to determine whether their symptoms are the result of a physical illness, a combination of physical and mental ailments or strictly ...

for further assessment. These mental health professionals can then diagnose a patient with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) by evaluating the person’s attitude, behavior, and symptoms.

Treatments

Body checking is most commonly a symptom of

s (ED) and

body image disturbance Body image disturbance (BID) is a common symptom in patients with eating disorders and is characterized by an altered Body image, perception of one's own body. The onset is mainly attributed to patients with anorexia nervosa who persistently t ...

(BID). Treatments of EDs and BID involve treatments for body checking. Isolated research regarding body checking treatments without relating disorders is rare, as most individuals experience (severe) body checking in relation to their ED. Treatment of ED is mostly multidisciplinary, containing psychological as well as medical treatments. Treatments used with body checking are: *

Psychotherapy Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of Psychology, psychological methods, particularly when based on regular Conversation, personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase hap ...

can be used to treat eating disorders and symptoms such as body checking. *

Family therapy Family therapy (also referred to as family counseling, family systems therapy, marriage and family therapy, couple and family therapy) is a branch of psychotherapy focused on families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and ...

. Improvements of symptoms like body checking in people with EDs after

family therapy Family therapy (also referred to as family counseling, family systems therapy, marriage and family therapy, couple and family therapy) is a branch of psychotherapy focused on families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and ...

have been shown in several cases, but there is little evidence yet for the effectiveness of family therapy on EDs. *

Cognitive behavioral therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that aims to reduce symptoms of various mental health conditions, primarily depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on challenging and chang ...

is a treatment that aims to teach how to recognise and change harmful thought patterns that lead to negative actions, such as body checking. Regarding EDs and BID, it focuses on reducing negative self-evaluation, body checking behaviour and self-objectification. *

Acceptance and commitment therapy Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT, typically pronounced as the word "act") is a form of psychotherapy, as well as a branch of clinical behavior analysis. It is an empirically-based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfu ...

. Pilot studies of acceptance and commitment therapy have shown significant increase in body satisfaction and decrease in body checking in trials with patients with BID. * Mirror exposure entails organised exposure to body image, typically in forms of standing in front of a mirror. A study investigating in the effects of mirror exposure on BID found significant results regarding a decrease in body checking as a result of mirror exposure.{{cite journal , vauthors = Delinsky SS, Wilson GT , title = Mirror exposure for the treatment of body image disturbance , journal = The International Journal of Eating Disorders , volume = 39 , issue = 2 , pages = 108–116 , date = March 2006 , pmid = 16231342 , doi = 10.1002/eat.20207

References

Body-focused repetitive behavior Obsessive–compulsive disorder