Pica
Persistent eating of non-food items, such as dirt, chalk, or ice, lasting one month or longer.
What it is
Pica is the persistent eating of substances with no nutritional value — common examples include dirt, chalk, ice, paper, soap, or hair — occurring for a month or longer and not part of a culturally supported or socially normal practice.Signs & symptoms
Behavioral
- Repeated eating of non-food items over a month or more
- Behavior isn’t part of a cultural or religious practice
- Can occur alongside typical eating patterns
Physical (can occur with untreated pica)
- Signs of intestinal blockage or injury
- Dental damage
- Signs of poisoning or toxicity, depending on the substance
Causes & risk factors
Nutritional deficiencies (particularly iron or zinc), pregnancy, and intellectual or developmental disabilities are all associated risk factors. It’s most often documented in children, though it can occur at any age.Treatment
A medical evaluation to rule out or treat any underlying nutritional deficiency usually comes first, since correcting a deficiency sometimes resolves the behavior on its own. Behavioral treatment follows if needed. See our full guide to levels of care for what care can look like.Myths vs. facts
Myth: Pica is just a phase all toddlers go through. Mouthing objects is typical in very young children, but pica specifically means persistent, repeated eating of non-food items for a month or longer, past the age or context where that’s developmentally expected.
Myth: Pica always means poisoning risk. The physical risk depends heavily on what’s being eaten — dirt or ice carries different risk than something toxic or sharp — which is part of why an evaluation matters rather than assuming the worst or dismissing it either way.
Myth: It only happens in children. It’s most documented in children, but it can occur at any age, including during pregnancy or alongside intellectual or developmental disabilities in adults.
What treatment actually looks like
A medical evaluation typically comes first, to check for and treat any underlying nutritional deficiency (iron and zinc deficiency are both associated with pica) and to assess for any physical harm already caused. In some cases, correcting a deficiency resolves the behavior without further intervention. When it doesn’t, behavioral treatment — often working with a specialist experienced in pica specifically, since general eating disorder treatment isn’t always the right fit — is the typical next step.
When to seek help
Depending on what’s being eaten, pica can carry real physical risk — intestinal blockage, injury, or poisoning — so a medical evaluation is worth pursuing sooner rather than later, not just a wait-and-see approach.Frequently asked questions
Is pica dangerous?
It can be, depending on what’s being eaten — risks range from digestive blockage to poisoning. That variability is exactly why a medical evaluation is worth pursuing rather than waiting to see if it resolves on its own.
Is pica linked to a nutritional deficiency?
It’s associated with certain deficiencies (particularly iron and zinc) in some cases, which is why checking for one is typically an early step, though not every case of pica has an identifiable nutritional cause.