You must have come across someone in your life, even if it was just once, who eats non-food items, sounds weird right? You would expect such behaviour in babies and toddlers who often don’t know any better, but, this happens to adults too and it’s called the pica eating disorder.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, pica is an eating disorder where a person compulsively eats non-food items without nutritional value. “Depending on when and why a person does this, pica can be normal, expected and harmless. However, it can cause major problems if a person with this condition eats something toxic or dangerous.”
The publication further explains that this condition is named after a kind of bird called the Eurasian magpie, whose full Latin name is Pica pica. This bird is known to consume strange things.
Healthline claims that pica can be triggered by the deficiency of iron, zinc, or other deficiencies, such as anaemia in pregnant women. It is also said to be a coping mechanism for mental health conditions like schizophrenia or OCD.
This condition is likely to be found in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, my 5-year-old autistic brother is one of the culprits. For them, the causes for pica as suggested by the Very Well Health publication are:
- Desire for pleasurable feelings from eating nonfoods.
- Inability to distinguish between foods and nonfoods.
- Nutrient deficiency, including inadequate iron or zinc levels.
The Recovery Village advises that for treatment, diet changes are encouraged to compensate for deficiencies that prompt this disorder. If unable to adjust, is i8s advised that dietary supplements may be recommended. “Some people with pica will see their symptoms quickly diminish with nutritional coaching, diet change and supplements. Others will require mental health therapy to decrease unwanted urges.”
The publication further mentions that treatment for children involves education, creating a safe environment, removing preferred nonfood items, increasing supervision, using distraction, and rewarding healthy eating. Behaviour modification techniques, such as rewards and punishments, have shown a 96% reduction in eating nonfood items within weeks of treatment, states the above source.
Also see: Understanding emotional eating
