The phrase "Did you eat a lot of paint chips as a kid?" is a long-standing cultural insult used to imply someone is unintelligent or is acting erratically. This stems from the historical reality that: Lead Poisoning: Before lead-based paints were banned for interior use, ingesting the sweet-tasting chips was a primary cause of lead poisoning in children. Health Effects: Lead poisoning causes severe and irreversible neurological damage, developmental issues, and even death. Pica: Eating non-food items like paint chips is a recognized eating disorder called pica, which is more common in young children and individuals with intellectual disabilities or nutritional deficiencies.