Eating disorder pica

September 19, 2020

DIET HEALTH
1 min reading time

Children are naturally curious about their surroundings and so it is extremely common to see a young child putting non-food items into their mouths, eg. the sand. However, with children who have the eating disorder Pica or allotriophagia, this curiosity leads to a compulsion to swallow non-food.

PICA eating disorder is a rare disorder, named after the corresponding Latin name for a species of magpie, which is characterized by unusual and indiscriminate eating habits, mainly out of curiosity.

By the term allotriophagia (eating "allotria"), we refer to compulsive urge to consume, i.e. to eat, chew or lick, inedible objects or foods with no nutritional value.

PICA is a serious behavior problem. It is observed all over the world, in various societies and cultures, in both sexes and in all ages. It is more often seen in children, where it usually ends with age. In PICA disorder there is a continuous consumption of non-nutritive and edible substances, over a period of at least one month and at an age where the individual's behavior is developing and therefore unable to cope with, understand and respond to such situations (e.g. age 18 – 24 months).

Common non-nutritive and edible substances consumed during this disorder are:

v clay,

v clay,

v sand,

v hairs,

v stones,

v gravel,

v hair clips,

v toothpicks,

v burnt match heads,

v plaster,

v cigarette ash,

v nails,

v nasal secretions,

v lead,

v starch glues

v chalk,

v cigarette butts,

v soil,

v toothpaste,

v soap,

v paper,

v bulbs,

v flowers,

v and even cornstarch,

v baking soda,

v coffee beans,

v flour,

v salt,

v raw rice,

v ice cubes etc

 

In pregnant women, PICA is usually limited to the period of pregnancy. However, in some adults, especially those with mental problems (eg mental retardation), the disorder can continue for years.

Its specific causes Pica are unknown, but certain conditions and situations may increase a person's risk:

  • nutritional deficiencies, such as iron or zinc
  • developmental problems, such as mental retardation, autism, other developmental disorders and brain abnormalities
  • pregnancy, but it has been suggested that pica during pregnancy occurs more often in women who experienced similar practices during childhood or before pregnancy, or who have a family history of pica
  • cultural factors – in families, religions, or groups in which consumption of non-food substances is a common practice
  • malnutrition, especially in less developed countries, where people with pica more often eat dirt or clay
  • parental neglect, lack of supervision or food deprivation – often seen in children living in poverty
  • extreme diets

The common side effects and risks behind the disorder vary greatly and are directly related to the substances and the amount consumed each time (eg poisoning, toxicity, gastrointestinal disturbances, etc.).

There is no specific method of prevention and treatment of PICA. The various therapies are basically focused on the psychological, environmental, family domain as well as on the behavior of the individual. Alternative psychotherapy methods such as: counseling, supportive psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, group psychotherapy, etc. can offer significant help.

 

Dagoglou Phaedra

Dietitian Nutritionist, Msc

In Food Science and Technology / Food Safety

 

Sources:

"Pica in iron deficiency: a case series", Yasir Khan and Glenn TismanEmail , Journal of Medical Case Reports, Published: 12 March 2010

"Feeding and eating disorders in childhood", Rachel Bryant-Waugh DPhil, Laura Markham BSc (Hons), Richard E. Kreipe MD, B. Timothy Walsh MD, International Journal of Eating Disorders, 8 January 2010

"Behavioral treatments for pica: A review of empirical studies", Kenneth E. Bell MS, David M. Stein Ph.D. International Journal of Eating Disorders, May 1992

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