The way the self learns to organize and use hunger and awareness of other bodily needs, is the result of an interaction between the child and the parents and is not something which arises on its own. The child needs to learn to organize his or her experiences in an useful way. Eating disorders are associated with faults in the child's awareness of hunger and experience of it.

Slimming, starvation and bad eating habits with faulty nutrition aggravate eating disorders.

Bulimia nervosa starts after an anorectic period with slimming and/or hard training.