Meet Yaz Chapman, the Portsmouth mum who’s earned the nickname “human paper shredder”! This 34-year-old mother of four has a unique eating disorder called pica, which sparks cravings for non-food items. Her taste for paper began in 2015 during her first pregnancy, and now she’s munching on around 10 sheets of A4 daily!
Yaz doesn’t need a shredder at home; she simply devours any sensitive mail! She rips it into strips and chews it like spaghetti. According to her, satisfying these cravings is akin to a chocoholic enjoying their favourite treat. While her peculiar obsession raises eyebrows, Yaz insists she’s healthy, stays hydrated, and has no negative effects from her paper diet.
Despite experimenting with edible paper, nothing hits the spot quite like the real thing for Yaz. Her cravings for non-edible items date back to age four when talcum powder, chalk, and silica gel balls were on her menu. She’s even nibbled on dental stone and polyfiller!
Currently, Yaz is seeking an assessment to see if she might have autism, often associated with pica. She’s candid about her journey and emphasizes that while her diet may not be conventional, a balanced nutrient intake keeps her health in check.
Pica, an eating disorder, is characterised by the consumption of non-food items and is more common in children with learning difficulties or autism. Yaz shares her story to raise awareness and remove stigma around these unusual cravings. Curious? Share your thoughts on what you think of Yaz’s extraordinary diet!