Body checking and avoidance in women: Associations with mental and physical health-related quality of life

Latner, Janet D.; Mond, Jonathan; Vallance, Joanna K.; Gleaves, David H.; Buckett, Geoffrey

doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2012.05.008

Cited by 31 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The results of the present study showed the expected associations of the total BCQ score and factor scores, the total BIAQ and factor scores, and BMI already seen in previous studies [7], [13], [41]. The association between the general BCQ score and the OAC and SBP scores with exercise intensity was new, however, and in the case of the latter, an association with exercise frequency was also found.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…However, we must highlight here that future research should investigate the role of body checking and body avoidance behaviour as predictors of more general constructs more deeply in different Western and non-Western cultures. These constructs include, for instance, quality of life [41] and attentional bias [49]. On the other hand, these investigations should also research additional predictors of body checking and body avoidance as well as extend the actual knowledge of important triggers for body image dissatisfaction related behaviours.…”

Section: General Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Initial Psychometric Evaluation and Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study of the Body Checking Questionnaire among Brazilian Women

et al. 2013

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Body checking is considered an expression of an excessive preoccupation with appearance. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Body Checking Questionnaire (BCQ). Additionally, we wanted to examine the questionnaire’s associations with body avoidance behaviour, body mass index, dietary habits, and the intensity, frequency, and length of physical exercise. Finally, we also examined the differences between the total BCQ score and the individual BCQ factor scores. Differences between active and sedentary persons and between non-dieters and those on weight-loss diets were also analyzed. For the psychometric study, 546 female public university students from four different courses were surveyed. Two minor samples of university students and eating disorders women were also recruited. In the second part of the study, 403 women were recruited from weight-loss programs, gyms, and a university. All participants were verbally invited to participate in the research and voluntarily took part. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit to the original model of the Brazilian BCQ that retained all 23 items. Satisfactory evidence of construct validity and internal consistency were also generated through analysis of factor loadings, t-values, Cronbach’s alpha, and construct reliability tests. The results also showed associations among body checking and body avoidance, body satisfaction, social anxiety, body mass index, and the frequency and intensity of physical exercise. Significant differences were found between non-dieters and weight-loss dieters for all BCQ factors and the total BCQ score. For physically active and sedentary persons, a significant difference was only observed for idiosyncratic checking behaviour. In conclusion, the BCQ appears to be a valid and reliable scale for Brazilian research, and the associations and differences found in this study suggest that women at gyms and especially in weight-loss programs should be targeted for future body checking studies.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: General Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Initial Psychometric Evaluation and Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study of the Body Checking Questionnaire among Brazilian Women

et al. 2013

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“…For example, Shafran, Lee, Payne, and Fairburn () demonstrated that compared with women who were asked to check their bodies noncritically in a mirror for 30 min, women who examined themselves critically (“high body checking condition”) experienced greater increases in body dissatisfaction. Given that there is a high prevalence of nonclinical disordered eating in the general population (Latner, Mond, Vallance, Gleaves, & Buckett, ), this emerging body of research may hold valuable evidence to inform prevention strategies and early intervention programmes for EDs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body checking and body avoidance in eating disorders: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

Nikodijevic

Buck

Fuller‐Tyszkiewicz

et al. 2018

Euro Eating Disorders Rev

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This review sought to systematically review and quantify the evidence related to body checking and body avoidance in eating disorders (EDs) to gauge the size of effects, as well as examine potential differences between clinical and nonclinical populations, and between different ED subtypes. PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PsycEXTRA, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE databases were searched for academic literature published until October 2017. A grey literature search was also conducted. Fifty-two studies were identified for the systematic review, of which 34 were eligible for meta-analysis. Only female samples were included in the meta-analysis. ED cases experienced significantly higher body checking (d = 1.26, p < .001) and body avoidance (d = 1.88, p < .001) overall relative to healthy controls, but neither behaviour varied by ED subtype. In nonclinical samples, body checking (r = .60) and body avoidance (r = .56) were significantly correlated with ED pathology (p < .001). These findings support transdiagnostic theoretical models and approaches to ED treatment and early intervention programmes.

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“…Findings from studies with non-clinical samples suggest that body checking is associated with body dissatisfaction and other ED symptoms (Haase, Mountford, & Waller, 2011; Shafran, Lee, Payne, & Fairburn, 2007; Smeets et al, 2011; Vartanian & Grisham, 2012), as well as impairments in overall quality of life and mental health (Latner, Mond, Vallance, Gleaves, & Buckett, 2012). Within the ED literature, much of the existing research on body checking has been conducted with binge eating disorder (BED) or mixed ED samples.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A naturalistic examination of body checking and dietary restriction in women with anorexia nervosa

Lavender

Wonderlich

Crosby

et al. 2013

Behaviour Research and Therapy

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Body checking has been conceptualized as a behavioral manifestation of the core overvaluation of eating, shape, and weight concerns underlying eating disorder psychopathology. Cognitive-behavioral theories suggest that body checking behaviors may function to maintain dietary restriction. The current study examined the association between body checking frequency and dietary restriction among women with anorexia nervosa (AN) in the natural environment. Women (N = 118) with full or partial AN completed baseline clinical interviews and a two-week ecological momentary assessment protocol, during which they reported on body checking behaviors (i.e., checking whether one’s thighs touch; checking joints/bones for fat) and dietary restriction (i.e., 8 waking hours without eating; consuming less than 1200 calories per day). Average daily body checking frequency was positively associated with baseline eating disorder symptoms and body mass index. Daily body checking frequency was associated with both forms of dietary restriction on the same day, as well as the following day. Results support the theorized association between body checking and overvaluation of shape and weight, and suggest that targeting such behaviors in treatment may have utility in reducing dietary restriction.

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Body checking and avoidance in women: Associations with mental and physical health-related quality of life

Cited by 31 publications

References 39 publications

An Initial Psychometric Evaluation and Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study of the Body Checking Questionnaire among Brazilian Women

An Initial Psychometric Evaluation and Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study of the Body Checking Questionnaire among Brazilian Women

Body checking and body avoidance in eating disorders: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

A naturalistic examination of body checking and dietary restriction in women with anorexia nervosa

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