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Ingestion of non-food objects is not part of the person’s culture: Some cultures promote the consumption of non-food substances. Therefore, healthcare professionals apply the following criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.īehavior lasts for one month: The individual persistently consumes substances that are not food and do not provide nutritional value for a time period of at least one month. However, no laboratory tests for pica currently exist. Once an expert detects pica symptoms, the next step is diagnosis. That’s because attempting to eat non-food items is a normal part of childhood development among infants and babies. But doctors don’t diagnose pica in children younger than two years old. Moreover, small children represent 25 to 33 percent of all pica cases. Worldwide, 20 percent of cases involve pregnant women. In children, it affects boys and girls equally. Pica can affect children, teens, and adults. (However, eating foods or drinks that have little or no nutritional value is not a symptom of pica.)Ī person with pica may experience cravings for any of the following non-food items:

Moreover, these items do not contain significant nutritional value.

Pica is an eating disorder that involves eating items that are not considered edible. In fact, 10 to 15 percent of people with mental disabilities and developmental issues also have pica.įurthermore, pregnancy sometimes causes pica cravings. Most often, pica often manifests in individuals with other mental health conditions. Moreover, pica disorder can result in serious medical conditions, such as anemia, intestinal blockages, and other life-threatening issues. Therefore, the pica eating disorder causes individuals to consume non-food items.įeatured on TV shows such as My Strange Addiction and The Woman Who Ate a House, pica is an alarming and dangerous disorder. The word “pica” is Latin for magpie-a bird known for eating almost anything.