Pica
Pica is an eating disorder that involves repeatedly eating items or substances that are not typically considered food and do not provide meaningful nutritional value. This may include things like dirt, clay, paper, chalk, hair, paint chips, soap, ice, or other non-food substances.
Learn about pica symptoms, risks, and support
What is pica?
Pica is a feeding and eating disorder involving persistent eating of non-food substances. The behavior is considered clinically significant when it is developmentally inappropriate, not part of a culturally supported or socially accepted practice, and persistent enough to raise concern.
Some people with pica feel strong cravings for specific substances. Others may eat non-food items automatically, secretly, or in response to stress, sensory needs, anxiety, boredom, or discomfort.
Pica is not a moral failure, a joke, attention seeking, or something someone should be shamed for. It is a real concern that deserves careful medical, nutritional, behavioral, and emotional support.
Pica is different from normal mouthing, cultural practices, or occasional curiosity
Context matters when understanding pica.
Very young children often explore the world by putting objects in their mouths, which is not the same as pica. Some cultural, religious, or traditional practices may also involve eating substances that are not typically considered food.
Pica becomes a clinical concern when the behavior is persistent, developmentally inappropriate, unsafe, distressing, or connected to medical, nutritional, behavioral, or mental health concerns.
Because pica can involve exposure to toxins, choking hazards, parasites, infections, dental injury, poisoning, or intestinal blockage, it is important to speak with a qualified healthcare provider.
Common signs and symptoms of pica
Pica symptoms can be behavioral, physical, nutritional, developmental, emotional, and environmental. A person does not need every sign listed here to deserve support.
Eating substances that are not food
- Eating dirt, clay, soil, chalk, paper, paint, soap, hair, or other items
- Craving or seeking out specific non-food substances
- Eating items despite knowing they may not be safe
- Difficulty stopping the behavior without support
Hiding or minimizing the behavior
- Eating non-food items privately
- Feeling embarrassed, ashamed, or afraid to tell someone
- Hiding evidence of eaten items
- Worrying others will judge or punish the behavior
Strong urges or cravings
- Feeling pulled toward a particular texture, smell, or substance
- Feeling distressed when the substance is unavailable
- Using the behavior to cope with stress or discomfort
- Feeling temporary relief after eating the item
Possible body signals
- Stomach pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Dental damage, mouth irritation, or choking concerns
- Fatigue, weakness, or signs of nutrient deficiency
- Unexplained illness after eating unsafe substances
Needs may vary by age and development
- More common concern in children, pregnancy, and some developmental contexts
- May overlap with autism, intellectual disability, or sensory seeking
- May require caregiver, school, or environmental support
- Assessment should consider age, culture, safety, and medical status
Stress, anxiety, or emotional distress
- Eating non-food items during stress or overwhelm
- Feeling anxious, ashamed, or confused about the behavior
- Having difficulty explaining why it happens
- Needing support that reduces shame, not punishment
Pica can be missed because people feel ashamed or because symptoms are misunderstood
Pica can be hard to talk about. People may worry that others will laugh, judge, punish, or assume the behavior is intentional in a simplistic way. This shame can keep symptoms hidden until medical or safety concerns appear.
Pica may show up as craving or eating dirt, clay, chalk, paper, paint chips, hair, soap, ice, starch, fabric, or other substances. Some substances are more medically dangerous than others, but all persistent pica behaviors deserve thoughtful assessment.
Pica can also overlap with nutritional deficiencies, pregnancy, stress, trauma, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, developmental differences, sensory needs, or other eating and feeding concerns.
Pica can involve serious medical and safety risks
The risks of pica depend on what is being eaten, how often it happens, the person’s age and health, and whether there are nutritional, developmental, environmental, or mental health concerns involved.
Poisoning or toxin exposure
Some substances, such as paint chips, soil, cleaning products, or contaminated materials, may expose a person to lead, chemicals, parasites, bacteria, or other toxins.
Choking, blockage, or digestive injury
Eating non-food substances can cause choking, constipation, abdominal pain, dental injury, bowel obstruction, perforation, or other gastrointestinal complications.
Nutrient deficiencies or unmet needs
Pica may be associated with iron, zinc, or other nutritional concerns for some people. Medical assessment can help identify whether deficiencies or other health issues are present.
Pica treatment often begins with safety, medical assessment, and reducing shame
Pica support may include primary care, pediatric care, obstetric care during pregnancy, lab work, nutrition counseling, therapy, behavioral support, occupational therapy, dental care, and coordination with caregivers, schools, or other providers when needed.
Care may focus on identifying medical or nutritional contributors, reducing access to unsafe substances, building safer coping strategies, supporting sensory needs, treating anxiety or distress, and helping the person and their support system respond without shame or punishment.
EDAM’s provider directory can help people in Maine find eating disorder therapists, dietitians, medical providers, treatment programs, and support resources.
Pica FAQs
These answers are for education only and do not replace medical, mental health, dental, developmental, occupational therapy, or nutrition care.
What is pica?
Pica is an eating disorder that involves repeatedly eating substances that are not typically considered food and do not provide meaningful nutritional value.
What kinds of things do people with pica eat?
People with pica may eat substances such as dirt, clay, chalk, paper, paint chips, hair, soap, fabric, starch, ice, or other non-food items. The specific substance varies from person to person.
Is pica common in young children?
Very young children often put things in their mouths as part of development, which is not the same as pica. Pica is generally only considered when the behavior is developmentally inappropriate, persistent, and not part of a culturally supported practice.
Can pica be connected to nutrient deficiencies?
Sometimes. Pica may be associated with iron, zinc, or other nutritional concerns for some people. A healthcare provider can assess whether lab work, supplementation, or other medical support is needed.
When should someone seek help for pica?
It is appropriate to seek help when eating non-food substances is repeated, difficult to stop, unsafe, distressing, secretive, causing physical symptoms, or affecting daily life.
Where can I find pica support in Maine?
EDAM’s provider directory includes eating disorder treatment and support resources available to people in Maine, including therapists, dietitians, medical providers, treatment centers, and virtual care options.
Pica deserves support without shame.
Eating non-food substances can feel confusing, embarrassing, or hard to explain. But pica is something that can be assessed and supported.
EDAM can help you learn about treatment options, find providers, ask better questions, and connect with eating disorder resources in Maine.
Start with the provider directory
Browse eating disorder providers and treatment resources throughout Maine, including outpatient care, higher levels of care, and virtual options.
Find treatmentSome situations need urgent medical attention
If you or someone you care about has eaten something toxic, sharp, contaminated, or potentially poisonous, or is experiencing choking, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, blood in stool or vomit, trouble breathing, confusion, fainting, severe weakness, or concern about immediate safety, seek urgent medical or crisis support.
Eating disorder support pages can be helpful, but they do not replace individualized medical care, toxicology or poison control guidance, therapy, nutrition care, dental care, developmental support, or crisis intervention.