ADHD Eating

Body Checking: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Break the Cycle

Childhood Feeding, Eating Disorders

If you’ve ever found yourself repeatedly looking in the mirror, pinching certain parts of your body, measuring body parts, weighing yourself, comparing your appearance to others, or asking for reassurance about how you look, you’re not alone. These behaviors are known as body checking, and they are incredibly common among individuals struggling with body image concerns, disordered eating, and eating disorders.

Group of women in an audience listening to a nutrition presentation.

Co-Occurring Mental Health Diagnoses and Eating Disorders: The Overlap

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are often misunderstood as being solely about food, weight, or body image. In reality, they are complex mental health conditions that frequently exist alongside other emotional and psychological challenges. For many people, an eating disorder develops as an unintended way to cope with overwhelming emotions, anxiety, trauma, stress, or a feeling of lack of control. While disordered eating behaviors may provide temporary relief, they often create additional challenges that impact both physical and mental health.