Are you body checking? We’ve all heard it by now - weigh less, be fit, eat right - and as a result, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to strive for an ‘ideal’ body. This pressure leads to body checking - regularly assessing our body size and shape in order to ensure we meet the standards of beauty set by society. Many people believe that this is harmless and even beneficial, but in reality, body checking can lead to mental health problems and further issues such as eating disorders.
Body checking can have many effects on both mental and physical health. Physically, it can lead to low energy, weight gain, lack of motivation, and stunted growth in adolescents. These physical ailments are then compounded by a multitude of mental issues such as a negative body image, feelings of shame and embarrassment, obsessive thoughts, and even depression. There is also evidence to suggest that body checking may lead to the development of an eating disorder in some individuals and can act as a trigger for those already suffering from an eating disorder.
The concept of body checking has become commonplace in our society. We are bombarded with messages telling us how to look and how to perform when it comes to our own, personal appearance. Ads, TV shows, magazines, and social media all project an unrealistic, idealized version of ‘perfection’, making it hard to not compare ourselves to others with the same kind of meticulousness as body checking. It can be difficult to separate our emotional responses from our physical ones, and the disconnect between the two can lead to dangerous situations for those who are at risk of developing an eating disorder.
Despite the negative impacts that body checking can have on mental and physical health, there are some benefits to it too. Being aware of your body size and shape is necessary for certain sports, and regular body checking can help ensure that athletes remain healthy and safe. For athletes, it might also increase performance as it can motivate one to continuously make improvements to their physical conditioning.
The decision to body check or not lies with the individual. Some people might find it helpful in certain situations, while for others it may be more of a hindrance. If you do choose to engage in regular body checking, make sure you do it in a safe and healthy way. Pay attention to your feelings and be conscious of how they may affect your thoughts. Be honest with yourself and be careful not to let feelings of shame or insecurity cloud your judgement. Most importantly, remember that beauty is subjective and that everyone’s body is unique in its own way – your worth doesn’t come from what size clothes you wear or how much you weigh.
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