Category: Eating disorders

According to Healthline, habitually eating raw starch like cornstarch can be a sign of a condition called pica, which is strongly linked to nutritional deficiencies. This uncommon practice, which can seem strange or even alarming, has a variety of underlying causes that range from a physiological need for nutrients to psychological coping mechanisms.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), an estimated 2.8% of U.S. adults will experience binge eating disorder in their lifetime. Binge eating is a prime example of a disordered eating behavior, characterized by consuming an unusually large amount of food in a short period while feeling a lack of control.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. When you eat uncontrollably, this condition is formally known as Binge Eating Disorder, or BED. It is a serious, but treatable, mental illness characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming an unusually large amount of food, accompanied by a feeling of a loss of control.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, pica is a relatively common mental health condition where a person compulsively eats non-food items, affecting certain populations more frequently. This behavior is known as the eating disorder in which people crave foods such as dirt or ice, and it can affect individuals of any age, though it is more common in children and pregnant women.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the practice of consuming earth, soil, or clay is an ancient habit, yet in modern contexts, it is medically known as pica. Pica is an eating disorder characterized by eating dirt or clay, along with other non-nutritive, non-food substances for at least one month. The behavior can be a sign of underlying nutritional deficiencies or other medical issues.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, anorexia nervosa carries the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. Understanding **how to help someone that refuses to eat** is therefore a critical and potentially life-saving skill that requires a compassionate, informed, and patient approach.

While former model Liza Golden-Bhojwani shared her past experience of consuming as little as 500 calories a day, no reputable health expert endorses such an extreme diet. This severely restrictive intake is an unsustainable and perilous method sometimes used within the fashion industry, rather than a healthy standard for any model.

According to a meta-analysis involving thousands of individuals, people with pica were 2.4 times more likely to have anemia compared to those without the disorder. This strong association highlights the critical link: can pica indicate a nutrient deficiency? For many, especially pregnant women and children, it is a significant symptom pointing toward a medical issue like a mineral deficiency.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. The habit of eating or drinking too much can be a symptom of several conditions, ranging from psychological distress to underlying medical issues.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, overeating is very common, and while it isn't an eating disorder, recurring episodes of consuming large amounts of food can be a symptom of a clinically recognized mental health condition called Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Understanding what is called when you eat too much is the first step toward identifying if your eating patterns require professional attention.