The challenges of body checking in eating disorder recovery 

Recovering from an eating disorder is a courageous journey that involves overcoming numerous psychological and behavioral challenges. One of the most difficult of these challenges is body checking - a behavioral pattern of examining one's body's size, shape, and weight. 

While body checking may initially serve as a coping mechanism or a way to feel in control, it can significantly hinder progress in recovery and make negative self-perceptions much worse.

Understanding Body Checking

Body checking can show up in many ways, from repeatedly measuring body parts to constant visual assessments in mirrors or reflective surfaces. For someone in recovery from an eating disorder, these actions are not just 'bad habits', but can trigger distress, anxiety, and reinforce unhelpful thought patterns. The compulsion to engage in body checking can be overwhelming, driven by an intense fear of gaining weight or losing control over one's body image.

Impact on Recovery

In eating disorder recovery, the primary goal is to foster a healthy relationship with food, body, and self-image. However, body checking can undermine this progress in several ways:

1. Negative Reinforcement: As body checking is done, it brings temporary relief. That relief is short-lived, as body image fears come back quickly, and a need to check again is prompted. This leads to more checking, relief, and the cycle goes on forever.

2. Distorted Perception: Continual scrutiny of one's body can distort perceptions of what is a healthy and realistic body image, leading to unrealistic expectations and dissatisfaction even as recovery progress is made.

3. Obsessive Behavior: Body checking can become an obsessive behavior, consuming time and mental energy that could be spent on living life the way you want to.

4. Trigger for Relapse: Engaging in body checking behaviors can trigger old patterns of disordered eating or lead to other harmful behaviors, risking hard-earned progress in recovery.

Coping Strategies

Overcoming body checking requires awareness, compassion, and often professional guidance. Here are some strategies that can support individuals in managing and eventually reducing body checking behaviors:

• Mindfulness Practices: Learning to observe thoughts and feelings without judgment can help individuals become more aware of when they are engaging in body checking and why.

• Setting Boundaries: Limiting exposure to triggers such as mirrors, scales, or clothing that might provoke body checking can help reduce the frequency of these behaviors.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT techniques can help individuals challenge and reframe negative thought patterns associated with body image and body checking.

• Support Networks: Engaging with supportive friends, family, or support groups can provide encouragement and accountability in working through body image challenges.

Moving Towards Healing

Recovery from an eating disorder is not a linear process, and setbacks are a natural part of the journey. Recognizing the role of body checking and actively working to reduce its influence is a crucial step towards healing and reclaiming a positive self-image. 

By fostering self-compassion, building healthy coping mechanisms, and seeking appropriate support, individuals can gradually diminish the power of body checking over their lives and move towards a more balanced and fulfilling relationship with their bodies.

Addressing body checking in eating disorder recovery requires patience, persistence, and a multifaceted approach. Individuals can gradually reduce the impact of body checking behaviors and empower themselves towards lasting healing and recovery.

If you are interested in working on your relationship with your body, whether you have an eating disorder or not, reach out to our office today for a free no-commitment call to find how we can help.