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Eating disorders

Rumination disorder

Repeatedly regurgitating food after eating, to chew, swallow, or spit it out again, without a medical cause.

Common signs

Repeated regurgitation after mealsWeight lossAvoids eating in front of others

Tips

For you

  1. Medical assessment
  2. Diaphragmatic breathing after meals
  3. Behavioural therapy

For family and friends

  1. Keep mealtimes calm and unhurried
  2. Go for a medical assessment

When to ask for help

  1. If they lose weight
  2. If there is dehydration

Are you having a really hard time? If you're thinking of harming yourself, call 024 (free, 24 hours) or 112.

Test for families

For parents or relatives: answer thinking about the child or person you are worried about, over the last few weeks. There are 8 questions and you get your result straight away. Your answers are not saved or sent.

0 of 8
1. Regurgitates food after eating
2. Re-chews or swallows the regurgitated food
3. Does it repeatedly
4. Doesn't seem nauseous when doing it
5. It lasts more than a month
6. Has lost weight
7. Avoids eating in front of others
8. Medical tests don't explain why
Also take the full eating disorders test →

Free resources

Downloadable PDF sheetSigns, tips and resources to print or saveADANER: Spanish association for anorexia and bulimia careFree external resourceAll our free guidesFree resource from Clínica Vivaldi

Related disorders

PicaEating disordersAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)Eating disordersAnorexia nervosaEating disordersBulimia nervosaEating disorders

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Reviewed by María Teresa Fernández Vicente, health psychologist and neuropsychologist (registration no. CV17304), in November 2026. Educational information prepared by the Clínica Vivaldi team based on the DSM-5-TR classification. It does not replace a professional assessment and cannot be used to diagnose.