Which statement is diagnostic of infantile anorexia?

• A. Refusal to eat adequate amounts of food for greater 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 when a child persistently refuses to eat adequate amounts for a sustained period, typically more than one month, leading to inadequate weight gain or weight loss. That duration of persistent under‑consumption is the defining feature, separating this eating pattern from transient picky eating. The other scenarios describe conditions or etiologies that can accompany poor intake or cause weight issues (such as mood disorders, a traumatic event, or a malabsorptive illness), but they do not establish the diagnostic pattern of this feeding disorder. In practice, recognizing the enduring refusal to eat enough for a month or more is key to identifying infantile anorexia and guiding appropriate evaluation and treatment.