Tag: Abnormal cravings

According to studies, cravings for non-food items, such as cardboard, are most often a symptom of an eating disorder called pica. This condition is medically defined by the persistent eating of substances that have no nutritional value for at least one month. Understanding the underlying cause is crucial, as it could signal nutritional deficiencies or other health issues.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, pica affects slightly over 1% of adults and up to 5% of children, where a person compulsively swallows non-food items. Pica is the name of the medical condition with abnormal cravings, and it can be a temporary or chronic eating disorder.

According to the DSM-5, a diagnosis of Pica requires the persistent eating of non-nutritive, non-food substances for at least one month, distinguishing it from general abnormal cravings. This condition is the most common medical term for what is colloquially known as a perverted appetite.