Signs you have body checking issues

Here are common signs you might have body-checking issues (you don’t need all of them for it to count):

Behavioral signs

• Constantly checking mirrors, windows, phone screens, reflections
• Pinching fat, grabbing thighs/stomach/arms “just to see”
• Weighing yourself frequently or feeling compelled to
• Measuring body parts with hands, fingers, or clothing
• Trying on the same clothes repeatedly to “check the fit”
• Comparing your body to others automatically (especially similar body types)

Mental / emotional signs

• Your mood shifts based on how your body looks that moment
• Feeling relief after checking… followed quickly by anxiety or urge to recheck
• Thinking “I just need to see one more time”
• Believing checking keeps you “in control”
• Feeling distressed if you can’t check
• Assuming body checking = being responsible or disciplined

Habitual / unconscious signs

• You don’t even notice you’re doing it—it’s automatic
• Checking increases during stress, fatigue, or emotional moments
• You body-check more after eating or skipping meals
• You check before deciding what to eat or wear
• You check even when nothing has objectively changed

Red flags that it’s more than a quirk

• Checking doesn’t make you feel better long-term
• It reinforces shame or disgust
• You avoid situations (photos, mirrors, intimacy, clothes)
• It interferes with focus, presence, or daily life
• You tell yourself “once my body changes, I’ll stop checking” (spoiler: that rarely happens)

Why body checking sticks around

Body checking:

• Temporarily reduces anxiety
• Gives a false sense of certainty
• Feels like “prevention”

But long-term, it actually:

• Keeps body anxiety alive
• Trains your brain to scan for flaws
• Makes your self-worth feel fragile and conditional

It’s a loop, not a solution.