Why Do I Eat Non-Food?

Do you persistently eat non-nutritive, non-food substances over a period of at least one month?

Is the eating of non-nutritive, non-food substances inappropriate to your developmental level?

Can you confirm that the eating behavior is not part of a culturally supported or socially normative practice?

It is unlikely that you have a problem with eating non-food, if you answered ‘No’ to all questions. People with pica disorder compulsively eat items that have no nutritional value, for at least one month. This can be relatively harmless items, such as ice, but also potentially dangerous items, likes pieces of metal. In case you would like to receive more information about the disorder, it may be helpful to plan a visit to your doctor.

While it is unlikely that you have pica, you are displaying some symptoms that are related to this disorder. People with pica compulsively eat objects that have no nutritional value, such as ice or even pieces of metal. The disorder is mostly found in children and pregnant women, and it’s most of the time temporary. Also, people with certain mental health issues, such as schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder, may develop pica as a way of coping with their issues. In other cases, pica can be caused by a deficiency in iron, zinc, or another nutrient. It is important to visit your doctor immediately if you or maybe your child keep(s) eating non-food objects.

Unfortunately, you are displaying the symptoms typically seen among individuals who have pica. Talking to your doctor is highly recommended in this case. Your doctor may do a blood test to measure your levels of iron and zinc. Sometimes nutrient deficiencies are linked to pica. Treatment usually starts with taking care of the issues that you developed by eating non-food items, for example: taking medication to excrete a certain substance. Besides, your doctor may want to rule out other mental health conditions. Pica may even go away without treatment, but this is not always the case; sometimes it can last for years. Therefore, it is important to ask your doctor for information and advises.