Body checking: The subtle sign of body dysmorphia in teens

At some point in our teenage years, we have all dealt with body insecurities. In today's world, body image issues have become a highly concerning problem among the younger population, which if not addressed on time can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety and physical ailments. Given the rise of body image issues and eating disorders in teens, parents are continuously worried about their child's health and wellness.

While many of the signs of body insecurities and body dysmorphia, which is a more serious form of body image concerns, are noticeable, there are certain signs that may often be overlooked. One of them is 'body checking'. But before we get into understanding what body checking is, let us first find out what body dysmorphia is.

Also read: How to STOP your daughter from apologizing (unnecessarily)

Body dysmorphia or Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a condition, wherein people believe that parts of their body look ugly.

According to the Mayo Clinic, those struggling with body dysmorphia engage "in behaviors aimed at fixing or hiding the perceived flaw that are difficult to resist or control, such as frequently checking the mirror, grooming or skin picking."

Furthermore one may try to hide perceived flaws with styling, makeup or clothes. Constantly comparing your appearance with others, the healthy body explains.

Also read: What to do if your kid often comments on someone's appearance?

Some of the common symptoms of body dysmorphia include:

- Avoiding mirrors

- Hiding body parts under a hat, scarf, or makeup

- Exercising continuously or constantly grooming oneself

- Comparing oneself with others

- Always looking for validation

Body checking is one of the many signs of an eating disorder and/or body dysmorphia. This symptom is common, but often overlooked. Very subtly, this form of behaviour has gained much momentum on social media.

Early this year, “Body Checks” became a media trend that promoted unhealthy beauty standards. Reports suggested thousands of teenage girls were super-focused on their side profiles, back profiles, jawlines, hips, waist sizes, and other attributes of their body.

Hashtags such as #bodychecking, #jawlinecheck, #smallwaist became extremely popular on TikTok.

Body checking is a compulsive or obsessive behaviour that urges a person to focus on a specific part of the body or the body as a whole and to seek information about it.

These include compulsively pinching loose skin, measuring body parts, weighing yourself multiple times in a day, and other obsessive behaviours that affect mood.

It is important to note the signs of body dysmorphia in kids, even the most uncommon ones. Sometimes the signs may not be as obvious, but it is best to address it if something doesn't feel right.

Be patient with your child and do not comment on their behaviour. Support them rather than making them feel more insecurity.

Always remember that people with BDD have poor insight on their own disorder. Also, you must educate yourself and understand the symptoms.

Most importantly, do not shout, lecture or push your child to get better. It is a process and they will need all the support you can offer.