A person with iron deficiency or Pica, an eating disorder, can crave certain non-food items like ice. It is strongly advised that a resolution be found as soon as possible because untreated pica can last for years and create permanent harm,” stressed Dr Anand. Another option is a treatment to address mental health or environmental health concerns. “However, if the cause of Pica is a mental disorder, you will need to consult a psychiatrist.

An expert is most likely to prescribe supplements and dietary modifications. The first thing to do on experiencing such cravings is to consult a physician and get yourself tested for iron deficiency. “It may emerge as a coping technique in people with certain mental health problems, such as schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),” she informed. The expert further pointed out that certain mental disorders, too, can cause Pica. “Geophagy is the consumption of mud, while amylophagy and pagophagia are terms used to describe an abnormal hunger for uncooked starch and ice,” Dr Anand told . A person who eats a large amount of chalk can experience digestive symptoms, such as pain in his abdomen, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. Pica is an eating disorder in which a person feels compelled to eat non-nutritive things such as dirt, clay, chalk, charcoal, paint, paper, soap, glass, hair, ice, and so on. Get a test for iron deficiency if you also have a headache, dizziness, hair fall, and pale skin,” she suggested.Īnother reason, according to Dr Sonal Anand, psychiatrist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, that can make one crave non-food items is Pica, an eating disorder. Sometimes just knowing the symptoms can help you or even your partner or child. “Iron deficiency is very common in India, and is also the cause of unusual cravings for non-food items. Simrun Chopra, a hormone specialist, points out iron deficiency as being one of the primary reasons behind your desire to eat chalk or mud. Do you ever crave non-food items like ice, chalk, mud, or eraser? No, it’s not something you imagine, there is indeed a reason behind such weird cravings.

Eating chalk disorder