Pica: The Eating Disorder That Makes You Eat Weird Things

November 29, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, Pica is a persistent eating disorder involving non-nutritive, non-food substances like hair or paint chips. This condition, often misunderstood, is the eating disorder that makes you eat weird things and can have serious health implications, including poisoning and intestinal blockages.

Quick Summary

Pica is a mental health condition characterized by compulsive cravings for and consumption of non-food items. The behavior can lead to serious health complications, and its causes range from nutritional deficiencies to underlying psychological issues.

Key Points

Pica is defined by eating non-food items: The disorder involves compulsively ingesting substances that lack nutritional value, for a period of at least one month.
Causes are varied: Factors can include nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc), mental health issues (OCD, autism), and stress.
Health risks are serious: Depending on the item, Pica can lead to poisoning, intestinal damage, infections, and dental problems.
Diagnosis requires professional assessment: A healthcare provider will evaluate eating habits, developmental history, and screen for related medical issues.
Treatment is often multi-faceted: Strategies involve addressing nutritional deficiencies, behavioral therapy, and environmental modifications to manage the condition.
Pica is not always permanent: The condition often resolves in children and pregnant women, though it may persist in individuals with developmental disabilities.

Understanding Pica: More Than Just 'Weird Cravings'

Pica is a complex and serious eating disorder, formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). The name originates from the Latin word for a magpie, a bird known for its unusual and indiscriminate appetite. Unlike the developmental stage where toddlers mouth objects out of curiosity, a diagnosis of Pica requires the persistent ingestion of non-nutritive substances for at least one month, for an individual who is past the age of two.

The range of non-food items consumed is wide and varied. Some of the most common include:

Geophagia: Eating dirt, clay, or soil.
Pagophagia: Compulsively eating ice.
Amylophagia: Eating raw starches, such as laundry starch or cornstarch.
Trichophagia: Eating hair, which can lead to life-threatening bowel obstructions.
Plumbophagia: Ingesting items containing lead, like old paint chips.

Potential Causes of Pica

The precise cause of Pica is not fully understood, but it is often linked to a combination of factors. A key hypothesis involves nutritional deficiencies, which may trigger specific cravings. However, the non-food items craved rarely, if ever, supply the missing nutrients.

Nutritional Deficiencies: A lack of specific minerals, most notably iron and zinc, has been associated with Pica. This is particularly common in pregnant women, who may develop anemia and crave non-food items as their body attempts to correct the imbalance.
Psychological Factors: Pica can sometimes be a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, or emotional trauma. It can also be a comorbidity with other mental health conditions, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and schizophrenia.
Developmental Delays: Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, such as autism, are at a higher risk of developing Pica. In some cases, it may be a learned behavior or a sensory-seeking behavior.
Cultural Practices: In some parts of the world, consuming certain non-food substances like clay is a culturally accepted practice and not considered a disorder. This must be taken into account during diagnosis.

The Health Consequences of Pica

While some ingested substances may be relatively harmless, others can cause severe, and even life-threatening, medical complications. The specific health risks depend on the quantity and nature of the material consumed. Some of these risks are outlined below:

Gastrointestinal Issues: Ingesting indigestible materials like hair, rocks, or plastic can lead to constipation, intestinal blockages, ulcers, or even perforations of the stomach or intestine.
Poisoning: Eating toxic substances like lead-based paint, chemicals, or other harmful materials can cause severe poisoning, leading to organ damage and neurological issues.
Infections and Parasites: Consuming dirt, soil, or feces can expose the body to parasites and infections, such as roundworm infestation.
Dental Damage: Chewing on hard objects like stones, bricks, or metal can cause severe abrasion and damage to the teeth.
Nutritional Impact: The ingestion of non-nutritive substances can interfere with the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals, worsening existing deficiencies and leading to malnutrition.

Pica vs. Normal Childhood Behavior


Feature	Pica (Disorder)	Normal Child Development
Persistence	Behavior lasts for at least one month.	Behavior is temporary and part of sensory exploration.
Age	Diagnosed in individuals over 2 years old.	Common in infants and toddlers under 2 years old.
Compulsion	Ingestion is compulsive, driven by a powerful urge.	Putting objects in the mouth is typically driven by curiosity.
Health Risk	Potential for serious harm from toxic or indigestible items.	Generally poses low risk, with accidental ingestion being the primary concern.
Associated Factors	Often linked to underlying medical or mental health issues.	A normal part of developmental learning and environmental discovery.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosing Pica involves a comprehensive clinical evaluation by a healthcare provider. The doctor will discuss eating habits, developmental history, and screen for associated medical and psychological conditions. Blood tests may be ordered to check for nutritional deficiencies (especially iron and zinc) and heavy metal poisoning (like lead). Stool tests can also detect parasitic infections.

Treatment for Pica is often multidisciplinary and tailored to the individual's needs, addressing the underlying cause and any resulting complications.

Correcting Deficiencies: If nutritional deficiencies are identified, supplementation can help resolve the Pica behavior.
Behavioral Therapy: Techniques like differential reinforcement or aversion therapy can help individuals unlearn undesirable behaviors and manage cravings.
Environmental Modifications: For children or individuals with developmental disabilities, modifying the environment to keep non-food items out of reach is crucial.
Psychological Support: Therapy and counseling can address underlying stress, anxiety, or other mental health conditions contributing to the behavior.

In many cases, Pica is a temporary condition that resolves with appropriate treatment, particularly in pregnant women and children. Early intervention is vital to prevent long-term health consequences. For those interested in finding support, the National Eating Disorders Association offers extensive resources and information on Pica and other eating disorders(https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/pica/).

Conclusion

Pica is a compelling and often misunderstood eating disorder characterized by the compulsive eating of non-food items. The behavior, while often temporary in children and pregnant women, can be a symptom of underlying nutritional or mental health issues. A proper diagnosis and a multidisciplinary treatment approach are essential for managing the condition and mitigating the serious health risks associated with it. If you or someone you know exhibits symptoms of Pica, seeking professional medical and psychological help is a crucial step toward recovery and overall well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

People with Pica eat a wide range of non-food items, including dirt, clay, paint chips, hair, ice, paper, and raw starch. The specific items vary by individual and may depend on availability.

Yes, Pica can be very dangerous. The severity depends on what is ingested, but it can lead to complications such as lead poisoning, intestinal blockages or perforations, parasitic infections, and severe dental damage.

The cravings are not fully understood, but potential causes include nutritional deficiencies (especially iron and zinc), certain mental health conditions (like OCD and schizophrenia), and psychological factors such as stress or anxiety.

Yes, while more common in children and pregnant women, Pica can affect adults, particularly those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. It can also be associated with certain mental health conditions.

Treatment for Pica focuses on the underlying cause and managing complications. It often involves correcting nutritional deficiencies, using behavioral therapy to address cravings, and modifying the environment to reduce access to non-food items.

If you suspect Pica in yourself or a loved one, the first step is to seek a professional medical evaluation. A doctor can check for nutritional deficiencies and any resulting health issues. Early detection is key to preventing serious complications.

Toddlers and children under the age of two often put non-food items in their mouths as a normal part of developmental exploration. A diagnosis of Pica is not typically made until a child is over two years old and the behavior is persistent for at least a month.