November 2004 – The all-time most commented post on this blog. A virtual support board for ice-eaters:
Pica is defined as an appetite for substances not fit for food, such as clay or paper products. Pagophagia is specifically pica for ice, and studies show this to be a specific indicator for iron deficiency anemia. The latter study studied 55 patients with iron-deficiency anemia. Thirty two (58%) had pica, and in 28 (88%) it manifested as pagophagia.
