A meta‐analysis of the relationships between body checking, body image avoidance, body image dissatisfaction, mood, and disordered eating

Objective Body checking (BC) and body image avoidance (BIA) have been proposed as etiological and maintaining mechanisms for eating disorder (ED) pathology. To date, no comprehensive review summarizes the relationships of BC and BIA with ED pathology, body image dissatisfaction, or mood/affect. Method Meta‐analyses examined the relationships of BC and BIA with ED pathology, body image dissatisfaction, and mood/affect. Gender, publication status, and presence or absence of ED diagnoses were examined as potential moderators. Results Results showed strong relationships between BC and ED pathology (ρ = 0.588) and BC and body image dissatisfaction (ρ = 0.631) and a moderate relationship between BC and mood/affect (ρ = 0.385). Similarly, results showed strong relationships between BIA and ED pathology (ρ = 0.553) and BIA and body image dissatisfaction (ρ = 0.543) and a moderate relationship between BIA and mood/affect (ρ = 0.392). Overall, limited evidence supported publication bias; however, publication bias may exist in the relationship between BIA and body image dissatisfaction in the literature. Subgroup moderator analyses suggested that gender moderates the strength of the relationships between BC and ED pathology, body image dissatisfaction, and mood/affect and between BIA and body image dissatisfaction. Discussion Results are consistent with cognitive‐behavioral models of ED pathology that suggest BC and BIA are behavioral expressions of overvaluation of weight and shape. Notably, more published research has investigated BC than BIA. Future studies, incorporating methods such as meta‐analytic structural equation modeling, should examine these variables to further test cognitive‐behavioral models of ED development and maintenance. Resumen Objetivo La verificación corporal (BC) y la evitación de la imagen (BIA) se han propuesto como mecanismos etiológicos y de mantenimiento para la patología en los trastornos de la alimentación (TCA). A la fecha, no hay una revisión completa que correlacione la BC y la BIA con la patología alimentaria (TCA), la insatisfacción corporal o el ánimo/afecto. Método Se realizó un meta‐análisis de la relación entre BC y BIA con TCA, insatisfacción corporal y ánimo/afecto. Se examinaron el género, estatus de la publicación y la presencia o ausencia de diagnóstico de TCA como moderadores potenciales. Resultados Los resultados mostraron una fuerte relación entre BC y patología TCA (p = .588) y BC e insatisfacción de la imagen corpora