How to Recognize Pica Eating Disorder

A pica eating disorder is a serious problem. Merriam-Webster defines pica as "an abnormal desire to eat substances (as chalk or ashes) not normally eaten." Pica is Latin for magpie, a bird known for its large and indiscriminate appetite.

This compulsive eating of inappropriate items goes beyond a child who is curious about sand or dirt and eats a little to see what it is. As many as 25 to 30 percent of children (and 20 percent of people seen in mental health clinics) have the eating disorder pica, which is characterized by persistent and compulsive cravings of nonfood items. The compulsive eating lasts 1 month or more.

Things You'll Need

• ability to observe compulsive eating habits
• judgment

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Instructions

• 1

  Recognize Pica Eating Disorder

  A child or adult may have pica if they repeatedly eat nonfood items (see Step 2 below for a list of items) for 1 month or more when efforts are made to stop this behavior. Also, pica may be present when an older child (older than 18 months to 2 years) continues to ingest inappropriate items. Look for clues that the person is eating items that have nothing to do with a cultural, ethnic, or religious practice.

• 2

  What Do People Eat Who Suffer from Pica Eating Disorder?

  Pica eating disorder is characterized by someone eating items that are not foods, such as the following:

  - cigarette ashes, blood, buttons, coal, clay, coffee grounds, dirt, feces, glue, hair, paint chips, paper, soap, toothpaste

  Pica disorder suffers may also have an abnormal appetite for food ingredients, such as the following:

  - flour, ice cubes, raw potato, salt, starch

• 3

  Potential Health Risks

  According to the Nemours Foundation, a person who continually consumes nonfood items may be at risk for serious health problems, including:

  - lead poisoning (from eating paint chips in older buildings with lead-based paint)
  - bowel problems (from consuming indigestible substances like hair, cloth, etc.)
  - intestinal obstruction or perforation (from eating objects that could get lodged in the intestines)
  - dental injury (from eating hard substances that could harm the teeth)
  - parasitic infections (from eating dirt or feces)

• 4

  What To Do For Someone with Pica Eating Disorder

  Talk to your child's doctor about compulsive eating of inappropriate items and about signs of pica eating disorder. In the case of an emergency, if a child has eaten something harmful, call 911 or Poison Control (see the Resources section below).