What Is Interoception and Why It Matters for Fussy Eaters

If you’ve ever wondered why your child doesn’t notice when they’re hungry, full, or in pain — interoception may be the missing link.

Interoception is the sense that helps us feel what’s going on inside our bodies. 

Let’s explore what interoception is, how it impacts feeding behaviour, and what you can do at home to support it.

🧠 What is Interoception?

Interoception is your internal sensory system it's the way your brain perceives signals from inside your body, like hunger, fullness, pain, temperature, or the need to go to the toilet.

In simple terms, it’s the body’s way of saying, “Hey, something’s happening — pay attention!”

At a neurological level, interoception is the process by which internal body signals — including pain, temperature, itch, sensual touch, muscle and visceral sensations, vasomotor activity, hunger, thirst, and even ‘air hunger’ — become part of our conscious awareness. 

A neuropsychological model by Garfinkel and colleagues divides interoception into three measurable constructs:

1. Interoceptive accuracy – the ability to accurately detect internal sensations (e.g. heartbeat, stomach distension)

2. Interoceptive sensibility – a person’s perceived awareness of internal states, often assessed via self-report questionnaires

3. Interoceptive awareness – the metacognitive ability to judge how accurate one's internal perceptions actually are

This framework distinguishes interoception from other sensory systems like exteroception (external senses) and proprioception (sense of body position in space).

🧠 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04079-w).

🚩 Signs Your Child May Be Struggling with Interoception

Interoceptive difficulties often go unnoticed, but they show up in subtle ways at mealtimes. Some signs to watch for include:

• Rarely reporting hunger or fullness

• Eating past fullness or never “feeling full”

• Difficulty toilet training or sensing urgency

• Overreacting to body discomfort (or seeming unaware of it)

• Emotional dysregulation with no obvious trigger

These children might not “feel” their hunger cues clearly which can make structured mealtimes confusing or stressful.

🔗 Interoception, Sensory Processing and Feeding Challenges

There’s a growing body of research exploring the connection between interoception, autism, and eating disorders — especially restrictive types like ARFID and anorexia nervosa.

Given the shared traits in autism and feeding disorders, such as sensory sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, and rigid routines, interoceptive difficulties may be a (https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2905).

Key findings:

• The rigidity and inflexibility in autism often leads to strict routines around food

• Sensory overload (from noise, texture, touch, or lighting) may lead to food avoidance or even fasting

• Difficulties interpreting internal signals may lead to long periods without eating or cycles of restriction and binge eating (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04079-w)

Although research on ARFID is still emerging, its recent addition to the DSM has prompted greater attention. Although there is a lack of current research into autism and ARFID, there is a strong indication that the co-occurence is high (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105717).

🛠️ Strategies to Support Interoception at Home

While interoceptive differences may be innate, they can be supported with the right strategies. Here are some ways to gently build awareness and comfort around internal cues at home:

💡 1. Body Check-Ins

Ask questions like:

“What is your tummy saying right now?”
“Do your muscles feel squishy or tight?”

💡 2. Use Visuals and Routines

Link food, drink, rest and toilet breaks to clear routines. Visual schedules or charts can help externalise what’s hard to feel internally.

💡 3. Try Mindfulness or Sensory-Based Play

Simple practices like breath work, sensory bins, or gentle stretching can help children tune in to what their bodies are telling them.

💡 4. Seek help

Therapies that integrate sensory processing or interoception training (like mindfulness, body awareness games, or the Zones of Regulation) can significantly improve a child’s ability to interpret bodily cues.

“Therapeutic interventions targeting interoception could be a crucial area of future research. Techniques such as mindfulness-based practices, interoception training, or sensory integration therapy may help individuals with ASD and AN to better regulate and interpret bodily signals.”
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04079-w

🧭 Need support interpreting your child’s internal cues?

If your child’s relationship with food feels confusing or stressful — you’re not alone. Understanding interoception is a powerful first step, and with the right strategies, progress is possible.

I've created a free, practical resource to help you get started.

[Download it here]