What is the term for eating non-nutritive foods?: A Deep Dive into Pica

November 1, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Cleveland Clinic, pica, the term for eating non-nutritive foods, is a surprisingly common eating disorder that affects people across all age groups, though it is more prevalent in children and pregnant women. This condition involves compulsively eating non-food items, ranging from relatively harmless substances like ice to dangerous materials such as paint chips or dirt. Understanding pica is crucial for identifying underlying issues and mitigating significant health risks.

Quick Summary

Pica is the persistent, compulsive consumption of non-food items with no nutritional value for at least one month. This condition is often associated with nutritional deficiencies and mental health disorders. Though sometimes harmless, it carries significant risks, including poisoning, infection, and digestive blockages, requiring careful medical evaluation and treatment.

Key Points

Pica is the term: Pica is the specific term for an eating disorder defined by the compulsive consumption of non-nutritive substances.
Causes are varied: The condition can be triggered by nutritional deficiencies, such as low iron or zinc, as well as psychological distress and developmental disorders.
Risk factors differ by population: It is more prevalent in pregnant women, young children over the age of two, and individuals with intellectual disabilities or certain mental health conditions.
Consequences can be severe: Eating non-food items can lead to serious complications, including poisoning, gastrointestinal blockages, and parasitic infections.
Treatment is comprehensive: A multi-disciplinary approach involving medical professionals, dietitians, and behavioral therapists is often necessary to correct the underlying issues and manage the behavior.
Diagnosis requires careful evaluation: It is important to distinguish pica from normal exploratory behavior in infants and rule out other medical conditions through a thorough clinical assessment.

Understanding Pica: The Compulsion to Consume the Inedible

Pica is formally defined as the persistent eating of non-nutritive, non-food substances over a period of at least one month. The diagnosis is reserved for individuals where this behavior is not developmentally appropriate or part of a culturally sanctioned practice. The types of substances people with pica ingest are extensive and often give rise to specific subtypes named with the suffix -phagia.

For example, some common forms of pica include:

Geophagia: The compulsive eating of earth, soil, or clay.
Pagophagia: The habitual consumption of ice.
Amylophagia: Eating raw starches, like cornstarch or laundry starch.
Trichophagia: The eating of hair, which can lead to blockages.
Plumbophagia: The ingestion of lead, such as from paint chips.

The Varied Causes of Pica

The exact causes of pica are not yet fully understood, but research suggests a combination of factors can contribute to the behavior.

Nutritional Deficiencies

One of the most common links observed is between pica and nutritional deficiencies, especially iron-deficiency anemia. The theory suggests the body may be attempting to replenish low nutrient levels, although the ingested items are often not a good source of the missing minerals. Zinc and calcium deficiencies have also been linked to pica. In some cases, treating the underlying nutritional deficiency with supplements can resolve the pica symptoms.

Psychological and Developmental Factors

Pica is often a coping mechanism for individuals experiencing significant psychological distress, anxiety, or stress. In children, especially those with developmental disabilities like autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disabilities, pica may be a result of sensory needs or an inability to distinguish between food and non-food items. Other mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia, are also associated with an increased risk of pica.

Environmental and Societal Influences

Environmental factors and socioeconomic status can play a role. A lack of parental supervision or child neglect may increase risk in children. In certain cultures, the consumption of non-food substances like clay may be a socially accepted practice, though this is only considered pica if the behavior requires clinical attention.

The Dangers and Complications Associated with Pica

The health risks of pica depend heavily on the nature of the substance consumed. While some ingested items like ice may be relatively benign, others pose serious, even life-threatening, dangers.

Physical Complications

Poisoning: Eating toxic substances like lead from paint chips or mercury can lead to severe poisoning.
Infections: Ingesting soil or feces can expose an individual to dangerous parasites and bacteria, resulting in intestinal infections.
Intestinal Issues: The consumption of indigestible objects like hair, string, or pebbles can cause blockages, constipation, or, in severe cases, tearing or perforation of the digestive tract.
Dental Damage: Abrasive items like rocks and dirt can cause severe wear, chips, or fractures to teeth.
Nutrient Absorption: Even if nutritional deficiencies caused the pica, some ingested items, like clay, can actually bind to nutrients in the digestive tract, preventing their absorption and worsening the deficiency.

Pica Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosing pica involves a thorough medical evaluation and a candid discussion with a healthcare provider. The provider will look for underlying causes and any resulting complications.

Diagnostic Tools

Medical History: Detailed information about the types of non-food items being eaten and the duration of the behavior.
Blood and Stool Tests: To check for signs of poisoning (like lead), infections, or nutritional deficiencies (such as anemia).
Imaging Tests: X-rays or other scans may be used to check for internal blockages or damage to the digestive system caused by ingested objects.

Treatment Strategies

Treatment for pica is often multi-faceted and tailored to the individual's specific needs.

Behavioral Therapy: Techniques like differential reinforcement and mild aversion therapy can help individuals manage and reduce pica behaviors.
Environmental Adjustments: In young children or individuals with developmental disabilities, removing access to hazardous items and increasing supervision is critical.
Nutritional Intervention: For cases linked to nutrient deficiencies, dietary changes and supplementation (e.g., iron or zinc) can be highly effective.
Psychological Support: When pica is associated with anxiety, stress, or other mental health conditions, counseling or other therapies are crucial.

Pica vs. Normal Exploratory Behavior

It is important to distinguish pica from the normal behavior of infants and toddlers, who commonly put objects in their mouths as a way to explore their environment. Pica is typically not diagnosed in children under two years of age because this mouthing is considered a normal developmental phase. The diagnosis is made when the behavior persists beyond this stage and involves compulsively eating non-food items for at least one month. The distinction between a normal exploratory phase and the disorder depends on the child's age, developmental level, and the persistence and nature of the eating behavior.


Feature	Normal Infant/Toddler Behavior	Pica (the Disorder)
Age Range	Typically under 2 years of age.	Diagnosed in individuals over 2 years of age.
Motivation	Exploration and sensory development.	Compulsive cravings, linked to nutritional or psychological issues.
Duration	Transient phase that passes as the child matures.	Persistent for one month or longer.
Items Ingested	Random, often harmless objects.	Specific, non-nutritive, and often hazardous substances.
Underlying Cause	A natural part of child development.	Nutritional deficiencies, psychological issues, or developmental disorders.

Conclusion: Seeking Professional Help

If you suspect that you or someone you know has pica, it is essential to seek professional medical advice. Individuals with pica often feel embarrassed or ashamed, which can prevent them from seeking help. However, early diagnosis and treatment are critical for managing the condition and preventing serious medical complications, such as intestinal blockages, infections, and poisoning. A healthcare provider can offer a compassionate diagnosis and develop a multidisciplinary treatment plan to address both the physical health risks and any underlying psychological or nutritional factors. By bringing awareness to this condition, more people can receive the support they need to address pica safely and effectively.

Visit the Cleveland Clinic for more information on pica

Frequently Asked Questions

Pica is an eating disorder where a person compulsively consumes non-food items that have no nutritional value for at least one month. The items can vary widely but commonly include dirt, clay, ice, paint chips, hair, and soap.

Pica can affect people of all ages but is most common in pregnant women, young children (especially those over age two), and individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, or other mental health conditions.

Yes, research shows a strong association between pica and nutritional deficiencies, most notably iron-deficiency anemia. Low levels of zinc and calcium have also been linked to the disorder.

Depending on the substance ingested, health risks can include poisoning (e.g., lead poisoning), gastrointestinal problems like blockages and infections, dental damage, and nutritional deficiencies.

Diagnosis is based on a clinical evaluation, including medical history, and sometimes blood or imaging tests. Treatment typically involves a multi-pronged approach, including addressing nutritional deficiencies, behavioral therapy, environmental management, and counseling.

Yes, the compulsive eating of large quantities of ice, known as pagophagia, is a specific form of pica. It is often linked to iron-deficiency anemia.

You should seek medical attention if you or someone you know is compulsively eating non-food items for more than a month or if there are signs of related complications like stomach pain, poisoning, or infection.