Pica: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments

Pica is an eating disorder that involves people intentionally eating non-food items with no nutritional value like dirt, chalk, hair, and clay. Some people eat non-food items due to mineral deficiencies (e.g., iron or zinc) while others are thought to engage in this behavior due to a compulsive drive like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If this behavior continues beyond a month, a pica diagnosis may be considered.

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Pica: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments