Answer: It was never specified. He was mentally retarted.
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By 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape?' it means what is annoying him or eating away at him.
Gilbert Grape - teen at a life crossroads with too much responsibility (Johnny Depp) Arnie Grape - mentally retarded teen brother of Gilbert (Leonardo DiCaprio) Becky - teen girl who arrives in an Airstream convention (Juliette Lewis) Bonnie Grape - incredibly fat, demanding, depressed mother of Gilbert Becky's grandma - retired woman with an Airstream trailer
What's Eating Gilbert Grape grossed $9,170,214 worldwide.
The filming was October 1992 to January 1993 and the film was released at the end of 1993.
A town Called Endora (not sure if its real) in Southern USA