Thursday, March 22, 2007

hello! today i found some information about an eating diorder

PICA
-a widely misunderstood phenomenon-defined as a compulsive craving for eating, chewing or licking non-food items or foods containing no nutrition.
some interesting things i found include: chalk, plaster, paint chips, baking soda, starch, glue, rust, ice, coffee grounds, and cigarette ashes.
the range is quite wide..
-linked to certain mineral deficiencies (i.e., iron or zinc).
it is associated with: developmental delays, mental deficiencies and/or a family history of the disorder and sometimes psychological disturbances(eg. living in an environment of little love and support)
OH! it is also common in pregnant women!......but fortunately usually goes away with the birth of the child(:

complications like lead poisoning, malnutrition, abdominal problems, intestinal obstruction, hypokalemia(potassium deficiency), hyperkalemia(high amt of potassium in the blood), mercury poisoning, phosphorus intoxication, and dental injury can occur



i also found COMPULSIVE EATING quite scary. basically, it is
-an addiction to food
-people use food and eating as a way to hide from their emotions-to cope with stress
-compulsive eaters tend to be overweight and aware of it,
-have low self esteem,
-and have constant need for love and affection


-shayne(the food lover-3bowls of rice/meal! (x )