<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001379246</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BODY CENTRAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BODY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001503533</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WVCP Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WESTVIEW CAPITAL PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>125 HIGH STREET, 26TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001503534</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WestView Capital Management, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WESTVIEW CAPITAL PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>125 HIGH STREET, 26TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001302525</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WestView Capital Partners LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WESTVIEW CAPITAL PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>125 HIGH STREET, 26TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001503243</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>von Schroeter Carlo</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WESTVIEW CAPITAL PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>125 HIGH STREET, 26TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001031908</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILLIAMS RICHARD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WESTVIEW CAPITAL PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>125 HIGH STREET, 26TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>236740</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.09</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3047842</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents securities held of record by WestView Capital Partners, L.P., or WestView. WVCP Management, LLC, or WVCP, the sole general partner of WestView Capital Management, L.P., which is the sole general partner of WestView, has sole voting and dispositive power over these shares. The managers of WVCP having shared voting and dispositive power over these shares are Carlo A. von Schroeter, who is also a director of the Issuer, and Richard J. Williams, each of whom disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>WVCP Management, LLC By: Carlo A. von Schroeter, Manager /s/ Carlo A. von Schroeter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>WestView Capital Management, L.P. By: WVCP Management, LLC By: Carlo A. von Schroeter, Manager /s/ Carlo A. von Schroeter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>WestView Capital Partners, L.P. WestView Capital Management, L.P. By: WVCP Management, LLC By: Carlo A. von Schroeter, Manager /s/ Carlo A. von Schroeter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carlo A. von Schroeter /s/ Carlo A. von Schroeter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard J. Williams /s/ Richard J. Williams</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
