During this modern day of rapid social media fame content creators developed extreme online entertainment methods to maintain continuous audience engagement.
One such trend that exploded in popularity over the past few years is “mukbang” — a genre of content where creators film themselves consuming massive quantities of food, often in a single sitting.
Mukbang entered the world from South Korea during the 2010s before launching its successful global expansion as a new content category for food-centered influencers.
The audience of mukbang content feels entertained while experiencing comfort and investigational curiosity by watching creators consume large amounts of food.
As viewership increases there emerge new health-related worries about the detrimental effects these videos have on content creator wellness.
Mukbangers who developed their careers through food consumption feel obliged to exceed their previous video content.
Today more people evaluate the permanent effects of achieving online fame while authorities study its effects on well-being.
China has already banned extreme food-eating content altogether, calling it a “distressing” waste of food, following concerns about both ethics and health.
Researchers from the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction concluded in 2021 that habitual mukbang viewers displayed symptoms of eating disorder problems.
Research revealed that South Korean students who watched mukbang videos frequently developed increased odds of eating excessive junk foods according to their own reports.
Ashifa ASMR started including safety warnings in her content during 2023.
The creator verifies that she creates her mukbang videos across different filming sessions as a safety precaution for her health.
Mukbang giant Nikocado Avocado whose real name is Nicholas Perry admitted to revealing the serious health complications resulting from his mukbang content creation.
Through his multiple videos he discusses the health complications he faces from his former overeating including mobility problems and sleep disorders and digestive issues.
The mukbanger disclosed that his weight reduction surpassed 110 kilograms and he underwent skin removal surgery after finishing his active mukbang streaming period.
Not all influencers succeeded in regaining themselves despite the passing time.
Chinese mukbang influencer Pan Xiaoting lost her life when she participated in an online eating challenge broadcast live in July 2024 because she tried to eat 10 kilograms of food.
The scary event of her stomach exploding during the stream exposed the extent people were willing to go to achieve online popularity.
The Filipino creator Dongz Apatan d!ed last June from a stroke that appeared soon after he participated in a fried chicken eating challenge.
His sister confirmed he did not finish everything shown on his videos which exposes potential entertainment pressure against him.
Mukbangers across all communities experienced a new shock following reports that one of their number d!ed as a 24-year-old young adult from Turkey.
The Turkish TikTok creator Efecan Kultur succeeded in drawing more than 150,000 followers to his video content where he displayed lavish Turkish cuisine to his online viewers.
The December period led to quick health deterioration because of obesity complications which caused him to experience standing issues and breathing problems and unexplained skin discolorations.
His medical hospitalization led to being confined to the bed while hospital staff needed to place him on a breathing device during his illness progression.
The news outlet Turkiye Today reported that Efecan Kultur d!ed on March 7 following recent deaths that rose from the dangerous mukbang trend.
His passing has brought renewed attention to regulating excessive food challenges on the internet as viewers mourn the talented star whose life ended tragically.
Feature Image Credit: (YouTube/Nikocado Avocado) and (Efecan Kultur)