Which of the following is considered diagnostic of infantile anorexia?

• A. Refusal to eat adequate amounts of food for more than 1 month
• B. Failure to eat adequately associated with childhood depressive disorder
• C. Failure to gain weight after a traumatic event
• D. Chronic weight loss associated with a malabsorptive disorder

Answer: (A)

Infantile anorexia is diagnosed by a persistent pattern of refusing to eat enough to meet basic nutritional needs, lasting for an extended period—typically more than one month—even when food is available. This ongoing inadequate intake is the defining feature that sets the diagnosis apart from other issues. The other scenarios describe potential associations or causes (depression, trauma, a malabsorption disorder) rather than the eating behavior itself becoming the diagnostic criterion.