What describes Rumination Disorder?

Rumination Disorder is characterized specifically by the regurgitation of undigested food, which is then either re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out. This disorder is not related to a medical condition or any other eating disorder and occurs frequently in individuals, particularly children, who may not fully understand the implications of their behavior. The act of regurgitation in Rumination Disorder is usually a voluntary action, which differentiates it from vomiting caused by other medical issues.

The other options do not describe Rumination Disorder. For instance, fear of gaining weight relates more to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Excessive exercise for weight loss is associated with behaviors seen in various other eating disorders or disorders like anorexia, while deliberate fasting may be part of restrictive eating patterns or even religious practices but does not pertain to the pathological cycle of regurgitating and re-ingesting food characteristic of Rumination Disorder. Thus, the defining feature of Rumination Disorder is indeed the regurgitation of food.