Tag: Sapophagia

According to the Cleveland Clinic, pica—the compulsive eating of non-food items—is a relatively common eating disorder, especially among children and pregnant women. Craving and consuming soap, a specific type of pica known as sapophagia, is a medically recognized phenomenon with several potential underlying causes.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, pica affects people of all ages and is associated with various conditions, including nutrient deficiencies. This behavior, which can manifest as a craving for soap, is most often linked to underlying iron deficiency and other nutritional imbalances.

According to a 2023 study published in the National Library of Medicine, pica, the craving for non-food items, is significantly associated with iron-deficiency anemia, which helps shed light on the serious implications behind the question, "Why do I crave bar soap?". This phenomenon is a sign your body may be signaling a deeper nutritional or psychological issue that requires medical attention.