Conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are frequently comorbid 2. Often onset is in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders 2. If you, or someone you know routinely eats objects or substances that are not food, please consult with a health care provider.Although the condition can present in any age group, most commonly pica has a childhood-onset. PICA, like most eating disorders, rarely resolves on its own. X-rays can reveal items or blockages in the intestinal track, while blood tests can determine possible anemia, toxins and other substances in the blood. This may include an assessment for possible anemia, intestinal blockages, or potential toxicity from ingested substances.Ī complete medical history should be taken as well as a physical exam. The first step is to obtain a medical evaluation if PICA is suspected. Dangerous Infectionīacteria or parasites from dirt or other objects can cause infections some can damage the kidneys or liver. Even worse, hard or sharp objects, such as glass or needles, can perforate the lining of the intestines. Physical Damage to the BodyĮating objects that cannot be digested, such as plastic or metal, can cause constipation or blockages in the digestive tract, including the intestines and bowels. If a person is too involved with unhealthy consumption, they risk negating the benefit of healthy food this can result in deficiencies in the nutrients the body needs to maintain health. Human beings are meant to eat real food, not rocks and stones broken teeth often result from this behavior. Permanent harm to the teeth is not unusual. In a child, this toxic environment can translate into learning disabilities, brain damage or death. Consuming these substances can poison the individual. Items, such as paint chips, may contain lead or other toxic substances. Possible complications include: Poisoning However, it is most commonly diagnosed in women and children, especially those with mental and developmental delays, particularly those with schizophrenia and autism.Ĭonsidering the unusual items that might be consumed, it is no surprise that PICA is viewed as an extremely dangerous behavior. The prevalence of PICA activity is unknown, since it often goes unreported. Interestingly, the act is actually reinforcing, in that ongoing consumption of these items ultimately activates the reward circuit in the brain, causing the individual to crave the substance even more. Those in the medical profession also believe that some engage in this activity simply because they like the taste, texture or smell of the things they consume. In the general population, it is thought that the most common reason for PICA behavior is anemia or the absence or lack of important minerals, such as iron or zinc. This is particularly the case in the first trimester of pregnancy.Īlthough medical professionals and researchers are confounded as to what inspires the urge, women can suddenly crave such items as coffee grounds or laundry detergent. Another population somewhat at risk is pregnant women. This caused extreme concerned in the decades before lead-based paint was taken off the market.Ĭhildren would consume paint chips and suffer a variety of negative medical and cognitive consequences. Some small children routinely ingest nonedible items out of boredom, or simply due to the enjoyment of putting things into their mouths. In other words, it is the in gestation of items or substances that are not food. This is typically defined as the persistent ingestion of non-nutritive substances for at least one month at an age for which this behavior is developmentally inappropriate. Most eating disorders are anathema to those who do not have one, but certain food-related illnesses are particularly alarming and baffling to the public at large. Much less is known about binge eating disorder, which coincidently is the most common eating disorder in the United States. Today, most people are aware of anorexia and bulimia, probably enough to identify that the former involves starvation, while the latter has to do with eating a great deal of food and then purging. Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment CenterĪ hundred years ago, an eating disorder would be an unfathomable concept.Online Eating Disorder Treatment Programs.
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