ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 of this book, titled “Introduction to Geophagia,” is a glossary of definitions of geophagia. The chapter furnishes definitions of geophagia from biological, cultural, and adaptive perspectives. The critical review of geophagia in this chapter provides a comprehensive understanding of the definitions of various authors, their universal acceptability, and ambiguity toward compiling a pervasive conceptual framework for the habit of geophagia. The next section of the chapter delivers an interesting overview concerning the concept of pica. The chapter describes the meaning of pica; its origin; and literature about pica, various pica habits, and their ill effects on the health of humans. The last section of the chapter is enriched with a concise overview of different pica habits among humans. This chapter is crafted keeping in mind the curiosity of readers about geophagia and pica. The comprehensive knowledge in this chapter about definitions, critical review, the concept of pica, and various pica habits among humans helps to supplement academic and clinical understanding of the aberrant eating behavior.
