Rumination Disorder
This is a condition in which a person regurgitates food that they have eaten and swallowed previously. They re-chew it and then either swallow it or spit it out. After eating, rumination usually occurs within 30 minutes. Unlike medical conditions like reflux, it is a voluntary practice. [8]
An individual may suffer from this disorder during their childhood, teenage years, or adult years. In infants, it usually develops between 3 and 12 months of age and goes away on its own. Therapy is usually required to resolve the condition in children and adults. A rumination disorder that is not treated in infants can lead to weight loss and malnutrition, which can be fatal. It is not uncommon for people with this disorder to restrict how much food they eat, especially in public. As a result, they may lose weight and become underweight.