P I C A ::::::::::::::::




What is PICA

Pica is a medical disorder characterized by an appetite for substances largely non-nutritive (e.g. metal (coins, etc), clay, coal, soil, feces, chalk, paper, soap, mucus, ash, gum, snow, etc.


More About Pica::::::::

The word pica comes from the Latin word for magpie, a bird known for its large and indiscriminate appetite.
Pica is most common in people with developmental disabilities, including autism and mental retardation, and in children between the ages of 2 and 3. Pica also may surface in children who've had a brain injury affecting their development. It can also be a problem for some pregnant women, as well as people with epilepsy.
People with pica frequently crave and consume nonfood items such as:
Although consumption of some items may be harmless, pica is considered to be a serious eating disorder that can sometimes result in serious health problems such as lead poisoning and iron-deficiency anemia.

  • Toilet Paper
  • Dirt
  • Clay
  • Sand
  • Chalk
  • Wood
  • Hair
  • Cotton
  • Wool
  • Paint
  • Starch
  • Feces
  • Mucus
  • Ice
  • Paper
  • Soap
  • Glue
  • Cigarette Butts
  • Salt
  • Flour
  • Raw Rice
  • Raw Pasta
  • Coffee Grounds
  • Hair
  • Rust
  • Buttons
  • Toothpaste
  • Beeswax
  • Chewing Gum
  • Household Cleaners
  • Batteries
  • Rusty Nails
  • Finger Nails
  • Glass

The things do people with Pica Disorder eat!!!!!



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Feces and dirt, sand, clay and other earth materials can carry infectious diseases. Parasites are common.
There is some evidence to suggest that ingesting materials that contain minerals our body normally needs inhibits the body's ability to absorb those nutrients through regular food. So ingesting iron substances can lead to iron deficiency. Ingesting substances with zinc can lead to zinc deficiency. Studies only suggest these as side effects - science has not confirmed this conclusion.





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Examples of PICA
  • Amylophagia (consumption of starch)
  • Coprophagy (consumption of feces)
  • Geophagy (consumption of soil, clay, or chalk)
  • Hyalophagia (consumption of glass )
  • Consumption of dust or sand has been reported among iron-deficient patients.
  • Mucophagia (consumption of mucus)
  • Odowa (soft stones eaten by pregnant women in Kenya)
  • Pagophagia (pathological consumption of ice)
  • Self-cannibalism (rare condition where body parts may be consumed; see also Lesch-Nyhan syndrome)
  • Trichophagia (consumption of hair or wool)
  • Urophagia (consumption of urine)
  • Xylophagia (consumption of wood or paper)

Why Do Some People Eat Nonfood Items?

The specific causes of pica are unknown, but certain conditions and situations can increase a person's risk:
  • nutritional deficiencies, such as iron or zinc, that may trigger specific cravings (however, the nonfood items craved usually don't supply the minerals lacking in the person's body)
  • dieting — people who diet may attempt to ease hunger by eating nonfood substances to get a feeling of fullness
  • malnutrition, especially in underdeveloped countries, where people with pica most commonly eat soil or clay
  • cultural factors — in families, religions, or groups in which eating nonfood substances is a learned practice
  • parental neglect, lack of supervision, or food deprivation — often seen in children living in poverty
  • developmental problems, such as mental retardation, autism, other developmental disabilities, or brain abnormalities
  • mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia
  • pregnancy, but it's been suggested that pica during pregnancy occurs more frequently in women who exhibited similar practices during their childhood or before pregnancy or who have a history of pica in their family
Eating earth substances such as clay or dirt is a form of pica known as geophagia,


which can cause iron deficiency. One theory to explain pica is that in some cultures, eating clay or dirt may help relieve nausea (and therefore, morning sickness), control diarrhea, increase salivation, remove toxins, and alter odor or taste perception.
Some people claim to enjoy the taste and texture of dirt or clay, and eat it as part of a daily habit (much like smoking is a daily routine for others). And some psychological theories explain pica as a behavioral response to stress or an indication that the individual has an oral fixation (is comforted by having things in his or her mouth).
Another explanation is that pica is a cultural feature of certain religious rituals, folk medicine, and magical beliefs. For example, some people in various cultures believe that eating dirt will help them incorporate magical spirits into their bodies.
None of these theories, though, explains every form of pica. A doctor must treat each case individually to try to understand what's causing the condition.

What causes pica during pregnancy?

The reason that some women develop pica cravings during pregnancy is not known for certain. There is currently no identified cause; however, according to the Journal of American Dietetic Association there may be a connection to an iron deficiency.
Some speculate that pica cravings are the body's attempt to obtain vitamins or minerals that are missing through normal food consumption. Sometimes pica cravings may be related to an underlying physical or mental illness.


Are pica cravings harmful to the baby?

Eating non-food substances is potentially harmful to both you and your baby. Eating non-food substances may interfere with the nutrient absorption of healthy food substances and actually cause a deficiency. Pica cravings are also a concern because non-food items may contain toxic or parasitic ingredients.


What can you do if you have pica cravings?

Don't panic; it happens and is not abnormal. The most important thing is to inform your health care provider to make sure you have a complete understanding of the specific risks associated with your cravings. Here are some suggestions to help you deal with pica cravings:
  • Inform your health care provider and review your prenatal health records
  • Monitor your iron status along with other vitamin and mineral intake
  • Consider potential substitutes for the cravings such as chewing sugarless gum
  • Inform a friend of your craving who can help you avoid non-food items

Eating   Disorder    Quiz:

1. I eat when I am bored.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
2. When I think about food, I feel out of control.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
3. When there is food around me, I fear I won’t be able to control how much I eat.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
4. I throw up or use laxatives or use some other form of purging.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
5. I decide how much I will or will not eat at any given time based on what I have eaten that day or in days previous.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
6. I use or have used at one time over the counter diet pills regularly.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
7. I like to be in control.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
8. Most people would describe me as a perfectionist and someone who is a high achiever.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
9. I feel like I am never good enough.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
10. It is very important for people to accept me.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
11. I have a hard time saying no.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
12. It’s hard for me to make a decision – I don’t want to make a mistake.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
13. I feel like people notice every little thing I do wrong and they see every little thing that is wrong with how I look.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
14. If people really knew how I felt and the things I think about, they would be shocked.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
15. People don’t really know what I’m really feeling.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
16. Life would be so much better if only I lost weight.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
17. People always seem to tell me their problems.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
18. If you asked my friends and family, they would say I’m a really strong person.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
19. When I see someone I think is thin, I compare myself to her.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
20. Even though people tell me I’m thin, they don’t see all the fat I’m hiding under my clothes.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
21. People tell me I’m too thin / unhealthy.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
22. People make comments about how much food I eat.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
23. I don’t like to eat in front of other people because I feel like people are staring at me and judging what I eat.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
24. There is constantly a negative voice in my head criticizing me.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
25. Sometimes I am secretly proud that I don’t eat as much as other people do.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
26. If I miss a day of exercising, I can’t concentrate.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
27. I try really hard to hide the fact that I’m not really eating when I have a meal with other people.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
28. I avoid eating in front of other people as much as I can.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all>
29. When I am upset or feeling rejected, my thoughts turn to food.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
30. I turn to food or thoughts of food to make me feel better.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
31. I feel guilty when I eat.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
32. I feel relieved when I purge / exercise after eating.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
33. I don’t really know when I am hungry or full.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
34. When I put on a piece of clothing and it feels looser than it did the last time I wore it, I feel good about myself.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
35. When I put on a piece of clothing and it feels tighter than it did the last time I wore it, I feel awful.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
36. Sometimes I stuff myself until my stomach is almost bursting.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
37. I use vomiting, laxatives, ipecac, exercise or some other form of purging behavior on a daily or almost daily basis.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
38. I am afraid to eat, either because I won’t be able to stop or because it will make me fat.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
39. Caffeine and/or cigarettes are my best friend! If I were to stop using them, I would definitely gain weight!
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
40. I chew gum so I won’t eat.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
41. I chew ice to satisfy my desire to eat.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
42. I weigh myself daily and that dictates what kind of day it’s going to be.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
43. I refuse to weigh myself at all.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
44. I have an addictive personality – I am addicted to other things such as drugs or alcohol, cigarettes, shopping, gambling.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
45. I lie about whether I have eaten or not and/or how much I have eaten.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
46. I hide food on occasion, either so it looks like I’ve eaten it, or so I can eat it later.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
47. When I go to a party where there is lots of food, I secretly wish I could take it all home for myself.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
48. When I go to a party where there is lots of food, I don’t eat or I only eat enough so as not to be noticed.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
49. I would never admit it out loud, but I have stolen food before (like from a grocery store).
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
50. I love to cook! I often spend hours preparing meals for others.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
51. I always know the calorie / fat / sugar / carbohydrate content of the foods I eat.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
52. I eat the same foods nearly every single day.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all
53. There are safe and unsafe foods.
True
Sometimes true
Neutral
Not really true
Not true at all

Score Your Eating Disorder Quiz

Now count up the number of times you answered each of the following on this eating disorder quiz:
True (5 points each)
Sometimes True (4 points each)
Neutral (3 points each)
Not really true (2 points each)
Not true at all (1 point each)

What Your Eating Disorder Quiz Score Means

If you scored between 210 - 265 on the eating disorder quiz, you are at high risk for developing an eating disorder (or you already have one). You should seek medical advice and/or professional counseling immediately. Doctors and trained psychologists / therapists can perform a more reliable assessment and help you figure out your eating disorder treatment options.
If you scored between 150 - 210 on the eating disorder quiz, you have a significant risk of developing an eating disorder. Many of your responses indicate you have issues with food. Those issues could turn into a full blown eating disorder if not treated early. Seek help from a doctor or mental health professional now, so an eating disorder doesn't develop.
If you scored between 100 - 150 on the eating disorder quiz, you have some issues with food and body image, but most likely they don't control your life and you have a pretty good handle on them. That being said, if you find your thoughts / beliefs around the questions above changing to be more true for you, then you should seek help.
If you scored between 53 - 100 on the eating disorder quiz, congratulations! You have very few issues with food and you have a pretty good self image! I hope this stays true for you. If you find your thoughts / beliefs changing and moving more toward the true range with some of the questions above, then please, seek help early to get yourself back to this fantastic place you're in right now!
After taking this eating disorder quiz / self-assessment, if you would like some more information on what is anorexia or bulimia nervosa, please check out those pages. And don't miss anorexia symptoms and bulimia signs to help you further identify if you or a loved one is suffering from an eating disorder.
Remember, eating disorder quizzes are not meant to diagnose, and you should not use this eating disorder quiz to diagnose yourself or someone you love. Only your doctor or a qualified mental health professional can and should do that.