The Risk Factors of Pica
Although the causes of pica are unknown, alongside the aforementioned signs and symptoms, there are some risk factors, including:
• Dieting. Some people will attempt to sate themselves while crashing diet by eating things that cannot or should not be digested. In some developing countries, people will eat inedible items in an attempt to feel fuller, with the most common item being dirt or clay.
• Cultural factors. Sometimes, eating non-foods is a cultural practice. For example, some religious rituals, magical beliefs, folklore, and herbal medicine practices call for people to eat dirt to cleanse their bodies of impurities.
• Mental health disorders. OCD, schizophrenia, autism, and other mental conditions can cause pica.
• Health complications. There is a practice known as “geophagia,” where some cultures practice eating dirt to relieve nausea. However, this sometimes causes iron deficiency. Other health complications may be brain disorders or injuries.
• Behavioral response. Pica can develop as part of a learned response, particularly as a safeguard against stress. Some people with pica say that they eat specific non-foods because it comforts them.
