rhizoverbBeta
DictionarypicaNonfood eating disorder
noun

pica

PYE-kuh/ˈpaɪkə/

An eating disorder involving persistent consumption of nonfood substances.

People with pica repeatedly eat nonfood substances, such as dirt.

A young adult woman brings a stick of classroom chalk to her open mouth to bite it, beside a chalkboard and a tray of matching chalk sticks.
Etymology
picaLatinmagpie

Latin pica means “magpie.” The disorder's name may evoke the bird's indiscriminate feeding, extending that image to cravings for substances unfit for food.

In context

Good Morning America13:19
Yes, it's called pica. And some people eat soap like detergent.
Uterine fibroids in Black women: Linsey Davis, Tamar Braxton and Cynthia Bailey speak out

More examples

  • Her doctor diagnoses pica after learning that she regularly eats paper.
  • Pica affects adults as well as children.
  • Treatment for pica addresses nutritional needs and eating habits.

Forms

pica