Home » » Eating Disorders » What is PICA?

What is PICA?

© Heather Mudgett.

Have you ever heard of an eating disorder called PICA? I must confess, I am reading and searching for new and interesting information on eating disorders all the time, but just recently came across this particular disorder. I started looking for information, after being asked by a reader for information about a different type of eating disorder.... one that involved eating unusual things such as paper, soap or wood (among many other things).

What I discovered is PICA. According to Kidshealth.compeople with PICA "most frequently crave and consume non-food items such as dirt, clay, paint chips, plaster, chalk, cornstarch, laundry starch, baking soda, coffee grounds, cigarette ashes, burnt match heads, cigarette butts, and rust. Glue, hair, buttons, paper, sand, toothpaste, soap, oyster shells, and broken crockery also have been cited in pica cases." They go on to explain "Although consumption of some items may be harmless, pica is considered to be a serious eating disorder, sometimes resulting in serious health problems such as lead poisoning and iron-deficiency anemia." (...FYI - KidsHealth.com had several pages of infomation on this disorder and is definitely worth a visit.)

From what I've learned, PICA occurs most frequently in pregnant women or breast feeding women. It's also been noted in children with autism, epilepsy and other mental disorders.

The Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders ( ANRED) site also provides information on PICA. They list the most common non-food items which PICA suffers crave are:

~ Dirt and/or clay ~ Paint chips, plaster, chalk ~ Cornstarch, laundry starch, baking soda ~ Coffee grounds ~ Cigarette ashes, burnt match heads ~ Rust

Another site which discusses the unusual symptoms of PICA, is the Support Concern and Resources for Eating Disorders S.A.C.R.E.D site. They outline the dangers and risks associated with PICA, which can include ", malnutrition, intestinal obstruction, intestinal infections or parasites from soil, Anemia, mercury poisoning, liver and kidney damage, constipation and abdominal problems."

A few other places to look for information on PICA include:

MedlinePlus which lists definitions, causes & risks, prevention, symptoms, treatment ideas and more.

Kimberly's Slim Pickins The information listed is in fact a reprint of an article from HealthCental.com. As I can't seem to get the original article to come up, I instead suggest reading it in the reprint form at this site.

ParentsPlace.com The staff nutritionist answers a worried parents questions about PICA.

Costarr.com Dr. Joel Wallach discusses the corrolation between mineral defiencies in the diet and the onset of PICA.

The copyright of the article What is PICA? in Eating Disorders is owned by Heather Mudgett.. Permission to republish What is PICA? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.