![]() If you have pica, you may regularly eat things such as: The behavior must continue for at least one month to qualify as pica. People with pica eat non- food items regularly. In these cases, eating non- food items may help you feel full. This form of pica is called geophagia.Dieting and malnourishment both can lead to pica. In some cultures, eating clay is an accepted behavior. People with certain mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder may develop pica as a coping mechanism.Some people may even enjoy and crave the textures or flavors of certain non- food items. Your unusual cravings may be a sign that your body is trying to replenish low nutrient levels. For example, anemia, or iron deficiency, may be the underlying cause of pica in pregnant women. ![]() In some cases, a deficiency in iron, zinc, or another nutrient may be associated with pica. ![]() Pica may also occur in adults who crave a certain texture in their mouth. In some cases, a lack of certain nutrients, such as iron and zinc, may trigger the unusual cravings. It is unclear how many children with pica intentionally consume dirt (geophagy).Pica can also occur during pregnancy. Up to one-third of children aged between 1 to 6years have these eating behaviors. Pica is seen more in young children than adults. It may be benign or may have life-threatening consequences. Pica is an eating disorder typically defined as the persistent ingestion of nonnutritive substances for at least 1 month at an age for which this behavior is developmentally inappropriate.
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