results from the long-term excess of energy in take relative to energy expenditure. A range
of genetic, physiological, behavioral, and en vironmental factors that vary across individ-
uals contributes to the development of obesit y; thus, obesity is not considered a mental
disorder. However, there are ro bust associations between ob esity and a number of mental
disorders (e.g., binge-eating disorder, depre ssive and bipolar disorders, schizophrenia).
The side effects of some psychotropic medica tions contribute importantly to the develop-
ment of obesity, and obesity may be a risk fa ctor for the development of some mental dis-
orders (e.g., depr essive disorders).
Pica
Diagnostic Criteria
A. Persistent eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances over a period of at least 1 month.
B. The eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances is inappropriate to the developmental
level of the individual. 
C. The eating behavior is not part of a culturally  supported or socially normative practice.
D. If the eating behavior occurs in the context of another mental disorder (e.g., intellectual
disability [intellectual developmental disorder], autism spectrum disorder, schizophre-
nia) or medical condition (including pregnancy), it is sufficiently severe to warrant ad-
ditional clinical attention.