Thirst, hunger, the ache of having sat too long: these are not nagging, they are instructions. When self-care keeps failing, it is often because the instruction never arrived.

What the research says

A meta-analysis of studies using the eating disorder inventory found that people with eating disorders consistently report feeling cut off from or confused by what is going on inside their bodies, across diagnoses and not explained away by depression. That is self-report rather than a test of sensing, and it covers one clinical group. Still, it fits the idea that a disturbed relationship with food and rest can sit on top of a perception difficulty.

Strength of evidence: one line of research. A single study, or a theoretical account.