Rumination Disorder
What is Rumination Disorder?
Rumination disorder, or rumination syndrome, is an eating disorder that involves “undigested food [coming] back up from a person’s stomach into his or her mouth (regurgitation). Once the food is back in the mouth, the person may chew it and swallow it again, or spit it out” (Cleveland clinic). This act of regurgitation usually follows after every meal and is a reflex action that could be intentional or unintentional.
History of the Disorder
The word “rumination” originates from the Latin word “ruminare”, which means to chew the cud. Rumination syndrome was first documented in 1618 by “...Italian anatomist Fabricus ab Aquapendende, who wrote of the symptoms in a patient of his.” (Glavin) Although not a well-known eating disorder, rumination syndrome has been around for at least four centuries.
Who is affected?
Although anyone could be diagnosed with rumination disorder, it seems to mostly affect babies and people with developmental disabilities (Cleveland Clinic). Additionally, anyone with high stress or anxiety levels may be more susceptible to this disorder.
Unfortunately, rumination disorder often goes undiagnosed, as it is very rare and unheard of. Here is an example of a young girl named Maya who has been diagnosed with the disorder, and an expert analysis of rumination disorder by Doctor Mike Dow:
Common misconceptions of the disorder
Since rumination disorder is widely misrepresented, it is important to acknowledge some common misconceptions about the disorder.
One misconception is that rumination disorder is caused by gastrointestinal problems; however, this widely underresearched disorder has not yet been identified with a common cause, and it is still unknown. Another misconception is that rumination disorder is harmless: however, when untreated, this eating disorder could be very serious. One of the biggest misconceptions is that rumination disorder and bulimia nervosa (link) are the same disorder, however, the disorders are very different when it comes to the onset of the purging, usual age occurrence, usual state of regurgitated food, and many others (Digital 2023).
Signs and symptoms of the disorder
Some signs and symptoms of rumination disorder include regurgitating and rechewing food, digestive problems, dental problems, and weight loss (Cleveland Clinic).
You are not alone
If you feel that you, or a loved one, are struggling with an eating disorder, please consult a professional or visit the sites below. Asking for help is not easy, but you are not alone, making that first will help you so much in the long run. Happiness and health are worth much more than societal standards.
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/eating-disorders/eating-disorder-treatment-and-recovery.htm
Works Cited
Professional, Cleveland Clinic Medical. “Rumination Syndrome.” Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17981-rumination-syndrome.
Glavin, Chris. History of Rumination Syndrome | K12 Academics. www.k12academics.com/eating-disorders/rumination-syndrome/history.
Digital, Amsive. “Rumination Disorder Myths.” The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab, May 2023, www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/rumination-disorder/rumination-disorder-myths/#:~:text=1.,food%20isn't%20working%20right.
