The Internet phenomenon which started as a funny trend has grown to become a worldwide phenomenon while facing severe criticism.
Since its inception the mukbang phenomena where video streamers eat large meals for viewers has attracted admiration together with serious wellness anxiety.
South Korean creators along with Turkish broadcasters developed wide following through their extended digital meal broadcasts.
Eating livestreamers perform marathon eating sessions with their videos that gain millions of views from fans who send donations and bring brand cooperation so eating becomes their full-time business.
Digital entertainment has exposed a troubling reality which includes both excessive food consumption and dangerous health consequences while resulting in increasing de@ths.
The food-based program design initially gained popularity by providing lonely viewers with social connection through real-time interactions.
Fans have started to question what physical repercussions creators face during each of their calorie-heavy and excessive eating sessions.
Turkish TikToker Efecan Kultur gained significant fame through his energetic portrayal of Turkish cuisine on his platform.
His massive 150,000 follower count came from the popularity of his large-scale eating displays which received thousands of viewer responses.
The growth of his platform led his fans to grow worried about his physical condition especially when they noticed his changes in breathing difficulty alongside his physical appearance.
His videos appeared alongside those of Nikocado Avocado and Pan Xiaoting who had to face criticism regarding the health impact of mukbang content.
The Internet personality Nikocado Avocado openly reveals his severe health struggles which include sleep problems and restricted body movement.
The massive 10 billion-viewing audience across YouTube and TikTok belied the fact that he would later require many surgeries to address weight fluctuations.
Fatal consequences have resulted from some instances where people followed the mukbang trend.
Chinese streamer Pan Xiaoting died at the age of 24 through food consumption during a 10-hour livestream when she attempted to eat 10 kilos of food in July 2024.
Medical examiners found her stomach expanded dangerously large which hinted at a stomach rupture while she performed the challenge.
At Facebook a Filipino mukbanger Dongz Apatan suffered a fatal stroke a month before when participating in a fried chicken eating challenge.
His sister later admitted he did not finish everything he ate but a local heart expert pointed to salt as the main cause of his de@th.
Such incidents continue to grow so healthcare experts issue timely cautions about showcasing excessive food intake on online platforms.
The International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction published research findings in 2021 that showed viewing mukbang videos frequently can lead to eating disorders in viewers.
Some ASMR content creators like Ashifa ASMR from India have started placing disclaimers within their videos and distribute their content through multiple sessions to minimize possible threats.
Recent tragic events have caused the Turkish government to investigate potential restrictions against social media usage for citizens under 16 years old.
Viewers became concerned when they noticed that Efecan Kultur stopped appearing in public during late 2024.
His streaming activities had stopped and social media users spread various theories concerning his health status.
According to witnesses who knew him best the YouTuber experienced a swift health decline during December of that year.
The obesity-related health issues forced Kultur into total confinement and he required both a machine to breathe and a bed because he could not even move.
The Turkish news source Turkiye Today issued a statement on March 7, 2025 to announce the de@th of Efecan Kultur who passed away at 24 years of age during his three-month hospital stay.
His passing sparked renewed global worries about dangerous viral eating fads and the real physical consequences such views have on people.
Feature Image Credit: (Efecan Kultur)
