Pica eating disorder is not about food, but about eating things like baking soda, paper, glue, chalk and dirt.
Pica eating disorder is defined as a compulsive craving for eating, chewing or licking non-food items or food containing no nutrition.
It is fairly common in pregnant women, whose symptoms usually disappear after the birth of the child or those experiencing high levels of stress, especially when dieting and not consuming enough nutrition. The name Pica comes from the Latin word for "magpie," which is a bird that's known for eating anything and everything.
Sometimes the behaviour is linked to certain mineral deficiencies, such as iron or zinc, which the body craves from other sources. The disorder is also linked to people who have psychiatric disturbances such as hysteria, people with developmental disabilities or similar impairments, people whose family or ethnic customs include eating certain non-food substances, families with a history of this behaviour, people who live in atmospheres of little support and love or who come from a poor family, and people who diet, become hungry and then try to disregard their appetite by eating low-calorie and non-food substances.
Children can develop Pica, statistically 10-20% before adulthood, but almost all of them outgrow it. They sometimes imitate household pets like cats and dogs, who chew on all sorts of domestic objects. It can be fairly harmless unless the craved substances are toxic or contaminated, which can cause intestinal infections and parasites, malnutrition, poisoning, abdominal pains and dental injury. It is, therefore, necessary to seek a medical evaluation to be diagnosed and treated promptly.
Some substances that people with Pica commonly crave are:
chalk
dirt or clay
plaster
paint chips
baking soda
corn or laundry starch
glue
rust
ice
coffee grounds
cigarette ashes or burnt match heads
The copyright of the article Pica Eating Disorder is Not About Food in Eating Disorders is owned by Lori Henry. Permission to republish Pica Eating Disorder is Not About Food in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I feel like i am going crazy, i cannot stop eating cigarrette butts. It has
been going on for years. Of course I know the health risks it is a horrible
compulsion that I cannot seem to stop. I would like to talk to some one
else with this problem. I really am a pretty normal appearing person, hold
a good job, have a great family. What is wrong with me??????????
Dec 28, 2006 6:42 PM
Lori Henry :
To start with, NOTHING is wrong with you! Although eating cigarette butts
may not be very common behavior, that does not mean that many others have
the same issue.
Have you ever spoken to a professional about
this? Perhaps they could help you to figure out why you are behaving this
way and, therefore, decrease it.
Finding someone who specializes
in eating disorders is ideal, as they have probably dealt with Pica-like
symptoms before. Let me know how it goes.
Nov 8, 2008 10:05 AM
Guest
:
Can eating cornstarch be harmful to you, even if you don't comsume alot?
Also, I have a craving for powdery substances, but I don't think it's
because I have a vitamin deficiency; can I eat something powdery and it not
be harmful to me?
Nov 30, 2008 4:37 PM
Guest
:
HI I DONT KNOW WHAT WORNG WITH ME. I SEEN THE TYRA SHOW SHOW SOME MONTHS
AGO AND I COLUDN'T BELIEVE IT. THERE WAS WOMEN WHO ATE FLOUR LIKE ME. i AM
18 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE BEEN EATING FLOUR SINCE I WAS 12 OR 13 I THINK. I
DON'T KNOW HOW IT STARTED BUT ONE DAY I JUST FEEL LIKE EATING IT. I KNEW IT
WASN'T NORMAL BUT I DIDN'T THINK I HAD A DISORDER. I DID RESEARCH AND I
REALLY THINK I HAVE THIS. THERE NOTHING WRONG WITH ME, IT NOT MENTAL AS I
HAVE READ. I DO HAVE ONE SYMPTOM I A HAVE IRON DEFICIENCY. I READ ALOT OF
WHAT PEOPLE SAY AND I CAN RELATE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE COMMENTS. I DON'T EAT
NON FOOD ITEMS BUT I DO EAT FLOUR WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE
INGREDIENT SECTION. MY FAMILY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT A FEW YEARS BACK. THEY
DON'T TALK ABOUT IT MUCH BUT WHEN THEY FIRST FOUND OUT THEY SAID SOMTHING
WAS WORNG WITH ME I SAID IT WASN'T. KNOW THAT I GOT THIS INFO AM AFRIAD TO
GO TO MOTHER FOR HELP BECAUSE I KNOW SHE DOES UNDERSTAND IT OR HAVE EVERY
HEARD OF IT AND WILL THINK I AM CRAZY.
Jan 21, 2009 10:37 AM
Guest
:
I started eating paper when I was pregnant then once I had my baby I stop,
and for the past year I started buying copy paper and eating it.
Feb 16, 2009 12:28 PM
Guest
:
i have had pica for some time now and i dnt knw what to do because i cant
stop i am 18 and started when i was 6 .. ive eaten everything thats
weird chalk,clay,ice,burnt matches,paper and pencil it starts then stops
for 6months straight or so i dont know i personally think alot of what i am
obsessed with eating has got to do with bad experience in my life and in
those moment i turned to eating strange ..everytime i feel bad its what i
do
Mar 11, 2009 3:54 PM
Guest
:
Hello, none of you are crazy! I used to eat a pack and a half of cigarette
ashes a day. I went to a Hematologist and found out that I was severely
anemic. I started getting iron infusions once a month and the Pica went
away. Literally, the urge that I could not fight if I tried just slowly
started to subside. I even threw away my old cigarette butts I was saving
to eat. My iron got low because I missed a few sessions and low and behold
next thing you know I'm looking at my cigarette to eat. I started my
treatments again and it went away again. I know is some people Pica is a
psych issue, but I know SO MANY people who I know are low in iron that have
some form of this disease. Please check with a doctor if you are able and
have them check you hemoglobin level.
Mar 12, 2009 8:06 PM
Guest
:
I am just drawing the conclusion that I have got to have a problem. I do
not smoke, but I found myself eating a cigarette today. People have always
noticed that I consume large amounts of ice. I also, periodically, crave
coffee beans and ground coffee, even though I am not a real coffee drinker.
There are other things like Listerine and Hall's regular cough drops.
Really anything with menthol and eucalyptus. I have suffered from severely
low iron in the past, but would that trigger such a brosd range of
cravings? These items do not seem to have any connection.
Mar 13, 2009 10:28 PM
Guest
:
Um, well... since I've been about 4 years old I've always had this
infatuation with powdered laundry detergent. I want to eat it all the time,
I even run my fingers through it. I get all shivery and excited because to
me the texture is just amazing. I eat cornstarch, flour, and I constantly
get cravings for ash, chalk powder, and fine sand, especially if the sand
looks hot! I usually don't go telling people but my mom has told me that I
probably have Pica... so I'm guessing that's why I do this.
Mar 22, 2009 11:18 AM
Guest
:
I've struggled with the shame of Pica for many years. It started when I'd
go to the basement of my workplace, it had a musty smell that I liked and
one day I was overcome by the desire to eat the finishing cement from the
walls. I ate the finishing cement off the walls, and would find any excuse
to go downstairs to do this. Then I started mixing cement at home. As you
might imagine this caused some very painful problems so I stopped, but the
desire has never gone away. I like to eat ice, snow, cigarette ash, kaolin
clay. It's shameful, and I feel crazy for doing it, but I cant seem to
stop myself. I've gone to 2 family physicians and admitted my problem, but
they either didnt believe me or didnt know what to do, so they both just
ignored it. I discovered I'm anemic, but Iron supplements make me ill.
Funny eh? I'm fine with ash and dirt, but iron supplements make me ill! I
frequently try to stop, and I'll be successful for a few days or even a
couple weeks, but then I just have to eat some clay! I'm normal in every
other way...but I'd be mortified if people found out.
Mar 27, 2009 12:18 PM
Guest
:
hello. i have read all your comments and i have a 12yr.old daughter with a
pica disorder. she "chews" foam, from where ever she can get it.
couch,chairs,toilet seat,mattress and stuffed animals. when i say
"chew" meaning she does not swallow it. she says she just has to
do this and cant stop,like a compulsive behavior. i have tried everything
to get her to stop. nothing works.please help. if anyone out there with any
support and ideas to help us,please contact me at: jt11racin@yahoo.com thank you.
Apr 17, 2009 7:31 AM
Guest
:
since the past 2-3 years i have been eating cement from the walls in my
house oddly i just cannot stop doing it. my parents found out because there
were lyk holes all over the house. its just the musty smell of it that i
love and the texture too. i researched this and came across the term pica,
i consulted my doctor and he suggested i had a blood test you guys shud try
it too just to make sure !!!!
Apr 21, 2009 10:16 AM
Guest
:
Every morning since i was about 5 i have been waking up wanting to eat dust
balls from my moms bathroom. I like how it feels in my hands and in my
mouth when its fresh and dry. I need help, i have a problem. Please i
want to be able to be thought of as normal and and not have a crusty
mouth.
Apr 23, 2009 1:51 PM
Guest
:
I am a person who knows what you are going through. I have been eating
cigarette ashes for over 14plus years. It do seems like you can't stop. I
even ask my doctor about it and she have no clue to what the problem is.
All I can say is pray and when I found out more we both can help each
other. But, I want you to know you are not alone. There's others that just
don't want to admit there problem.
Apr 25, 2009 2:23 PM
Guest
:
I'm 16, and I've been eating couch foam from anywhere I can obtain it.. I
am in need of help.. I have recently stopped because I have totally ran out
of it in my home.. and it feels like an addiction and I need it.. :(
help!
May 1, 2009 8:04 PM
Guest
:
i think i seriously need help. im sixteen and ive been eating toilet paper
since the seventh grade.i do have a lack of iron in my blood. but im scared
to tell my mom that i eat it, but ive tried to stop but it never works.
May 15, 2009 12:30 PM
Guest
:
i have been eating laundry powder in small quantities for a good few
years. i am anemic and have low iron levels, so this must be why i
have pica. i'm so glad to find out it's an actual disorder and i'm not
crazy. it worries me terribly however about the effect on my body it will
be to consume washing powder. :(
May 17, 2009 7:05 PM
Guest
:
sandra My crave for eating bath soaps started 11 years ago. I
need help. Right throughout the day I just keep biting little chunks of soap. Right now my mouth is watering for a bite. I fear that it
will affect my health. I need help to stop!
May 17, 2009 10:55 PM
Guest
:
Im Currently Pregnant & i cant stop eating toilet paper,obviously not
dirty toilet paper but the clean kind. I can even taste the chalk in it
sometimes. I have been taking iron pills,(found out im anemic) & pills
that are recommended by my doc- but i still want to eat paper :( I
feel like im addicted & im scared it could be harmful to my baby! Im trying really hard to not give into my desire for paper! Its really
weird. Wish Me Luck !!!
Jun 11, 2009 7:35 PM
Guest
:
I have been eating Toilet paper since for a long time I guess you can say I
hate eating thick tissue. Is it bad for my health? Does It make me lose
weight?
Jun 16, 2009 9:33 AM
Guest
:
hey can any one tell me how eating cigerret ashes can affeect you? ive been
eating them for years but nothing happens to me. i need help i try to give
up but i cant!!!
Jun 17, 2009 7:52 AM
Guest
:
Hello There, Is This What It Really Is??? Ive do feel mad, I have eaten
washing powder for 3 years now, it started by craving the smell when I was
pregnant and I'd pour cup fulls into the box and smell it on the way passed
my nose, Then I wanted to smell it longer so I'd wash (smother) my hands
with it,(even after I had my child, I still craved it) then it got worse,
when the washing powder was wet, I didn't want to waste it so I'd scrape it
into another laundry powder cup and lick tiny bits. Then it got worst again
Once it was in the cup I'd hide it away, wait until it was quite a solid
rock then crush it into little chunks and eat them, It got to the point
where'd I'd have a cup full of dry powder and a cup full of damp powder, my
refill... I'd eat at least a laundry cup full of powder a week... I really
indeed thought I was mad but some how convinced myself I needed it for the
sodium or salt??? I don't know why, I don't know why I ate it either, This
Was Until; My Lungs Collapsed!!! Indeed!!! I had cysts on both of my lungs
and now have asthma, where None of these are common in my back ground,
neither is munching on washing powder, I know... But that's what you get
aye... So Be Careful what you munch on.... PS: I'm still craving the
washing powder (SURF-TROPICAL,Mmmm.Damn It) but I know its not worth lung
surgery again... Xx PPS: I DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHY I DID THIS... I do have
Anemia!!!
Aug 14, 2006
