Very Concerning'Body-Checking' Trends Have Made Their Way to Tik Tok

TikTok is home to many viral trends that range from heartwarming to hilarious, but another content niche is popping up on the app that has experts concerned: body-checking trends. 

Chelsea M. Kronengold, communications lead at the National Eating Disorders Association describes body-checking as "observing and taking mental note of what your body shape, weight, appearance or size looks like." 

While anyone can engage in body-checking, it becomes problematic when it involves "obsessive, intrusive thoughts and behaviors" about your body. 

"For example, when someone walks by a mirror or window that shows a reflection, they’ll likely take a peek and continue on without giving it another thought. For people struggling with body image, body checking can be all-consuming, and they might poke and prod while staring at their reflection." 

Several body-checking trends have made their way to TikTok, with the hashtag #bodychecking reaching 5.5 million views. One that has gained attention involves assessing the size of your wrist by seeing how many fingers fit around it.