Which disorder involves regurgitation of food that may be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out?

• A. Rumination Disorder
• B. Anorexia Nervosa
• C. Pica
• D. Encopresis

Answer: (A)

Regurgitation of recently ingested food after meals, with the food being re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out, is the hallmark of rumination disorder. This behavior is distinct from vomiting because it is a voluntary or semi-voluntary regurgitation that occurs after eating and can be repeated over time, often persisting for at least a month. It is not explained by a medical condition or by another eating disorder, and it can occur across the lifespan though it commonly begins in infancy or early childhood.

Other options don’t fit because they describe different problems: anorexia nervosa centers on fear of gaining weight and restrictive eating; pica involves consuming non-nutritive substances; encopresis involves repeated inappropriate defecation.