I’m sure many of you, while scrolling on a random Saturday afternoon, have come across a creator absolutely demolishing an absurd amount of food. Viewing from your phone, it may seem innocent or might even make you hungry, but mukbang culture can have some serious consequences.
The term mukbang refers to online videos where creators eat large quantities of food while talking to the audience. With food-related content being one of Youtube’s most popular categories, it’s easy to see why mukbangs have gained popularity over the years. The food that is consumed in most mukbangs is typically inexpensive and unhealthy, encouraging viewers to crave and purchase similar foods. This pattern can lead to many harmful effects. According to an article published by the National Library of Medicine, mukbangs have been linked to “a wide variety of health problems, including obesity and eating disorders.”
The most eye-catching part of a mukbang is the sheer amount of food that is laid out in front of the creator. This kind of display can convince the viewers that this amount is normal, which may encourage them to adopt similar habits. According to the Journal of Medical Internet Research, there is a “positive relationship between binge eating or purge tendencies and problematic mukbang viewing.” In addition, studies show that 83.5% of mukbangs show harmful habits like overeating, possibly influencing the viewer’s eating habits. To make this problem even worse, some mukbang creators eat an excessive amount of food but somehow manage to maintain the same appearance. This misleads viewers into thinking that overeating has no impact on their physical health or appearance. Over time, these unhealthy habits can contribute to a toxic relationship with food.
On the other hand, watching mukbangs can have positive effects on people. Sharing a meal with other people is regarded as one of the most significant ways of connecting and socializing. People who live alone or don’t have anyone to eat with sometimes rely on mukbangs or eating-related shows to feel connected to someone, even if it is through the screen. Watching mukbangs can actually help these people feel less isolated. Moreover, people have reported that watching mukbangs increased their appetite or spurred them to stabilize their food intake. Studies have also suggested that mukbangs help people with their eating disorders or habits.
However, these positive effects depend on how often users watch mukbangs. Occasionally watching this content may have positive effects, but constantly doing so can have harmful effects. If viewers start to rely on these mukbangs for changing their eating habits, unhealthy eating behaviors might arise.
All in all, mukbangs are not necessarily harmful or helpful to everyone. The effects often depend on how frequently you watch the videos and what you take away from the content. So the next time you come across a mukbang with a ridiculous amount of food while scrolling on a Saturday afternoon, sit back and enjoy—but don’t try to do the same!
