What Is Rumination Disorder

What Is Rumination Disorder?

Rumination Disorder is an eating disorder where individuals repeatedly regurgitate food after eating. This regurgitation may be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out, and is not caused by a medical condition such as reflux.

Most commonly diagnosed in infants and children, rumination disorder can also affect adolescents and adults. If left untreated, it can result in malnutrition, weight loss, dental problems, and social isolation due to shame or embarrassment.

Treatment focuses on identifying underlying behavioral or emotional causes, restoring healthy eating patterns, and improving overall well-being.

5 Signs & Symptoms of Rumination Disorder

intense-fear-of-gaining-weight-icon

Repeated Regurgitation of Food

Food is brought back up from the stomach within minutes of eating, almost daily. This process happens involuntarily and is not associated with nausea or typical vomiting.

Re-Chewing or Re-Swallowing Icon

Re-Chewing or Re-Swallowing Food

Food is sometimes chewed again and swallowed, or spit out, after being regurgitated. This behavior can become habitual and interfere with normal eating patterns.

obsession-with-food-and-weight-icon

Unexplained Weight Loss or Malnutrition

Due to repeated regurgitation, essential nutrients are not properly absorbed by the body. Over time, this can lead to significant weight loss, vitamin deficiencies, and overall health decline.

Dental and Throat Icon

Dental and Throat Issues

Frequent regurgitation can cause tooth decay, bad breath, and sore throats due to stomach acid exposure. It may also lead to gum irritation and enamel erosion over time.

eating-alone-icon

Emotional Distress or Social Avoidance

Embarrassment may lead to isolation, avoidance of eating in public, or anxiety around mealtime. These emotional struggles can worsen the cycle of disordered eating behaviors.

Do I Have an Eating Disorder?

If you’re concerned about your symptoms, click below to take our eating disorders quiz.

Treatment Options for Rumination Disorder

  • Medical Assessment & Nutritional Support
    Treatment begins with stabilizing weight, correcting nutritional deficiencies, and ensuring overall physical health is maintained. Regular medical monitoring helps prevent complications from regurgitation and malnutrition.

  • Behavioral Therapy
    Habit-reversal training, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and relaxation techniques are used to reduce regurgitation behaviors. These methods help individuals gain control over automatic responses and develop healthier habits.

  • Psychological Support
    Addressing underlying anxiety, stress, or trauma is an important part of recovery. Therapy provides coping strategies to manage emotional triggers that may contribute to the disorder.

  • Meal Coaching & Exposure Therapy
    Structured mealtime support helps rebuild healthy eating behaviors and reduce regurgitation episodes. Clients gradually gain confidence in eating without fear of symptoms.

  • Family Involvement & Education
    Family therapy provides essential support, particularly for children and teens dealing with rumination disorder. Education helps loved ones understand the condition and reinforce recovery at home.

  • Aftercare Planning
    Individualized care plans are developed to prevent relapse and support long-term success. Continued therapy, follow-up appointments, and resources ensure ongoing progress after treatment.

Client Testimonials

Luxury Treatment for Rumination Disorder

Our centers provide a serene, supportive environment where clients can focus on healing with dignity and privacy. Designed to reduce stress and promote overall wellness, our programs include private accommodations, chef-prepared meals, and a peaceful atmosphere that encourages recovery. Every detail is created to help individuals feel safe, cared for, and supported during their journey.

At Virtue Recovery, we combine clinical expertise with the comforts of luxury care to ensure a whole-person approach to treatment. Our holistic programs address both the physical and emotional aspects of rumination disorder, allowing clients to restore balance in their lives while receiving evidence-based therapies in a compassionate setting.

luxury treatment for anorexia nervosa
9230 Corbett-12_1

Our Las Vegas Luxury Inpatient Rumination Disorder Treatment Center

Our Las Vegas inpatient program offers 24/7 care in a safe and structured environment. With medical oversight, therapy, and nutritional counseling, clients receive comprehensive support to overcome rumination disorder.

This intensive setting allows individuals to step away from daily stressors and focus fully on recovery, guided by a compassionate, multidisciplinary team.

Name: Virtue Recovery Las Vegas

Address: 9230 Corbett St, Las Vegas, NV 89149

Phone Number: (702) 996-5973

9230 Corbett-28_1
9230 Corbett-32_1
9230 Corbett-33_1
9230 Corbett-1_1
9230 Corbett-2_1
9230 Corbett-3_1
9230 Corbett-4_1
9230 Corbett-5_1
9230 Corbett-27_1
9230 Corbett-6_1
9230 Corbett-29_1
9230 Corbett-31_1
9230 Corbett-30_1
9230 Corbett-7_1
9230 Corbett-8_1
9230 Corbett-9_1
9230 Corbett-10_1
9230 Corbett-11_1
9230 Corbett-12_1
9230 Corbett-13_1
9230 Corbett-14_1
9230 Corbett-15_1
9230 Corbett-16_1
9230 Corbett-17_1
9230 Corbett-18_1
9230 Corbett-19_1
9230 Corbett-20_1
9230 Corbett-21_1
9230 Corbett-22_1
9230 Corbett-23_1
9230 Corbett-24_1
9230 Corbett-25_1
9230 Corbett-26_1

Our Las Vegas Outpatient Rumination Disorder Treatment Center

Our outpatient program in Las Vegas is ideal for clients who do not require inpatient care or who are transitioning out of a residential setting.

Clients attend structured therapy and counseling sessions while continuing to live at home. This balance allows for ongoing accountability, flexibility, and integration of recovery into everyday life.

Name: Virtue Recovery Las Vegas Outpatient

Address: 2585 Montessouri St # 100, Las Vegas, NV 89117

Phone Number: (702) 996-5973

2585 Montessouri-1
2585 Montessouri-1
2585 Montessouri-23
2585 Montessouri-24
2585 Montessouri-25
2585 Montessouri-26
2585 Montessouri-27
2585 Montessouri-28
2585 Montessouri-29
2585 Montessouri-30
2585 Montessouri-31
2585 Montessouri-2
2585 Montessouri-3
2585 Montessouri-4
2585 Montessouri-5
2585 Montessouri-6
2585 Montessouri-7
2585 Montessouri-8
2585 Montessouri-9
2585 Montessouri-10
2585 Montessouri-11
2585 Montessouri-12
2585 Montessouri-13
2585 Montessouri-14
2585 Montessouri-15
2585 Montessouri-16
2585 Montessouri-17
2585 Montessouri-18
2585 Montessouri-19
2585 Montessouri-20
2585 Montessouri-21
2585 Montessouri-22
399A3195 copy-min

Our Las Vegas Adolescent / Teen Inpatient Rumination Disorder Treatment Center

Rumination disorder often appears in children and adolescents, which is why Virtue Recovery offers a specialized inpatient program for young people.

Our teen program combines medical, psychological, and educational support to address the unique needs of adolescents in recovery.

Name: Silver State Adolescent Treatment

Address: 8225 W Robindale Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89113

Phone Number: (725) 777-1440

399A3195 copy-min
399A3194 copy min
399A3589 copy-min
399A3591 copy-min
399A3604 copy-min
399A3622 copy-min
399A3644 copy-min
399A3658 copy-min
AH6I1009 copy-min
399A3202 copy-min
399A3376 copy-min
399A3555 copy-min
399A3587 copy-min

Frequently Asked Questions About Rumination Disorder Treatment

While most common in infants and children, it can also occur in adolescents and adults.

Causes may include stress, anxiety, developmental delays, or learned behaviors. It is not caused by an underlying physical illness.

Yes. It can lead to weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, dental issues, and social isolation if untreated.

Treatment often includes behavioral therapy, nutritional support, psychological counseling, and family involvement, all of which are available at Virtue Recovery.

Glossary of Terms for Rumination Disorder Treatment

An eating disorder involving repeated regurgitation of food without a medical cause.

A behavioral technique to replace unwanted behaviors with healthier ones.

Guidance from dietitians to address nutrient deficiencies and promote balanced eating.

Therapy that helps change unhealthy thought and behavior patterns.

Counseling sessions designed to strengthen family involvement in recovery.

Intensive, 24/7 care in a residential setting.

Flexible treatment for clients who live at home while receiving structured care.

Long-term support strategies to help sustain recovery post-treatment.

Eating Disorder Treatments

Anorexia Nervosa

Virtue offers medically supervised treatment for individuals struggling with severe food restriction, body image distortion, and extreme weight loss associated with anorexia.

Bulimia Nervosa

Comprehensive care is provided for those experiencing cycles of bingeing and purging, helping them restore physical health and emotional balance.

Orthorexia Nervosa

Treatment focuses on addressing obsessive behaviors around “clean” or “healthy” eating that interfere with daily functioning and well-being.

Binge Eating

Individuals receive therapeutic support to overcome compulsive overeating and emotional eating patterns that impact mental and physical health.

Compulsive Overeating

Virtue’s approach helps clients manage chronic overeating behaviors linked to stress, trauma, or emotional triggers.

Rumination Disorder

Specialized therapy is offered for the repeated regurgitation of food, often tied to anxiety or developmental concerns.

Laxative Abuse

Care targets both the physical effects and underlying psychological issues related to the misuse of laxatives for weight control.

Diabulimia

Integrated treatment supports individuals with type 1 diabetes who manipulate insulin for weight loss, addressing both eating disorder and medical risks.

Body Dysmorphia

Treatment involves cognitive and behavioral strategies to reduce obsessive thoughts and distorted self-image tied to body appearance.

OSFED

A flexible, individualized treatment plan is developed for those whose symptoms don’t fit neatly into other diagnostic categories.

ARFID

Virtue helps clients expand their food choices and overcome fear-based or sensory-related food avoidance.

UFED

Clients receive personalized care for disordered eating patterns that require clinical attention but lack a specific diagnosis.

Special Eating Disorders

We provide tailored treatment for less common or overlapping eating disorders that fall outside standard diagnostic categories.

Dual Diagnosis

Our integrated approach addresses both eating disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions for complete, whole-person healing.

Featured Articles