Tag: Pica disorder

Though practiced for centuries in some cultures, in a 2017 study 54% of 597 pregnant participants in a South African study practiced geophagia. Experts caution against the assumption that this practice is harmless. Learn how much clay is safe to consume—or if any amount truly is—by understanding the significant health risks involved.

It is estimated that up to 30-50% of people with unexplained pica—the compulsive eating of non-nutritive substances—have underlying iron-deficiency anemia. So, can anemia cause cravings? The answer is a clear yes, and these cravings often point toward a significant nutritional deficiency that requires medical attention.

Compulsively chewing on ice or freezer frost is a medical condition known as pagophagia and can signal more than just a quirky habit. What seems like a harmless behavior can potentially lead to dental damage, expose you to bacteria, and point toward serious nutritional deficiencies or mental health issues.

According to the American Dental Association, chewing ice can cause serious dental damage, from chipped teeth to weakened enamel. While an occasional cube is likely harmless, a daily, compulsive craving could signal an underlying medical issue, making it crucial to understand the difference between a simple habit and a potential health concern.

While chalk is primarily composed of calcium carbonate, it contains no actual nutritional value and is not meant for human consumption. The persistent craving for and eating of chalk is a symptom of pica, an eating disorder often linked to underlying health conditions.

Medically known as pica, the persistent craving to eat non-food items like chalk is a recognized eating disorder linked to nutritional deficiencies and psychological factors. Even a small, non-toxic amount can cause discomfort, while regular consumption presents significant health hazards. This compulsion is a sign that requires attention, as it is never a safe practice.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, pica is an eating disorder characterized by the persistent ingestion of non-nutritive, non-food substances. Within this classification, eating stones, or lithophagia, is a specific and potentially dangerous form that can stem from complex medical and psychological factors.

A 2017 South African study found that 54% of 597 pregnant individuals experienced geophagy, the practice of consuming earth. While a long-standing practice in some cultures, modern science reveals that the potential risks of consuming unregulated soil far outweigh any unsubstantiated benefits, which are often anecdotal or related to underlying medical conditions.

According to the Northern New England Poison Center, while modern erasers are generally non-toxic, they are not considered safe to eat. Ingesting erasers, particularly in larger pieces, can pose significant health risks beyond simply being unappetizing.

According to a 2025 study in the *International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity*, geophagia is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, where up to 73% of some populations report the behavior during pregnancy. This craving, medically known as pica, can stem from several underlying factors, including significant nutritional deficits.