Pica may develop during pregnancy, but symptoms often disappear postpartum. Some children may get a pleasurable feeling or sensory stimulation from eating non-food items.” Nutritional factors such as low levels of iron or zinc may be linked. Cambridge Community Services states: “It is common in certain groups of the population and occurs more frequently in children with learning difficulties. It is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Rarely will a child be diagnosed with pica before the age of two. While it’s quite normal for very young infants to mouth or chew non-edible items such as grass, soil, crayons, keys or toys, a child with pica will be compulsively drawn to chewing metals and various non-food substances. Ĭhildren may develop pica alongside other co-existing neurodevelopmental disorders, including various eating disorders. Pica has no bearing on some cultural and religious practises around the world which may involve ingesting non-nutritional substances, as part of a cultural norm or tradition. People with pica may eat regular nutritious meals whilst simultaneously acting out by ingesting the potentially harmful items or substances. Large quantities are often ingested as part of the compulsive behaviour which canpose a serious health risk. From a medical stance, a person with pica will compulsively consume items such as ice, paper, soap, paint, chalk, soil, and blu tack. ![]() The term picaoriginates from the Latin for magpie, a bird known for voraciously eating food and non-food items alike.Īlthough pica is one of the most commonly observed eating disorders in individuals with autism and other developmental disorders (DD), it’s under-diagnosed and under-reported to medical practitioners. Pica is an identified eating disorder which causes individuals to compulsively ingest non-food substances which have no nutritional value. ![]() And when that energy can be circumvented in a different way, incredible things happen.” - Anna Sweeney, MS, RD, LDN, CEDRD-S What is pica? “Living with an eating disorder takes extraordinary fortitude.
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