Over 40 million TikTok videos are tagged with #mukbang, featuring individuals eating enormous meals meant for multiple people. These videos often contain loud slurping and crunching as people consume large amounts of food. Although repulsive to many, videos like these still appeal to the majority of ASMR fans, who find the videos comforting. While viewers watch with hunger and curiosity, one might also wonder, “How can one eat that much?”
Many people do not consider the videos’ repercussions, such as the perpetuations of unhealthy eating habits, the normalization of gluttony and the creation of toxic standards.
In mukbangs, people eat excessively more food than what is considered healthy. This can lead viewers to expect to stay fit while following the unhealthy diets promoted by influencers. When looking at these individuals behind a screen, viewers can be blinded by the illusion that this is their regular diet. A study done in January 2020 analyzed over 5,000 of the mukbangs on social media platforms, and explained they promote the unhealthiest diets. For instance, they may show someone eating too much in a short amount of time, or someone eating exceedingly spicy or irritating foods that can cause discomfort or harm to one’s body.
Furthermore, mukbangs normalize gluttony — or habitual greed or excessive eating — as they have become more prevalent in society. In many religions, such as Islam and Christianity, gluttony is known to be a sin. Nowadays, there is a constant normalization of gluttony due to mukbangs. Popular mukbangers such as Nikocado Avocado and Zach Choi constantly upload videos showing an excessive amount of food, which physically cannot be eaten by an average person. According to the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, mukbang portions are so large that it can distort one’s idea of how a regular size portion should be. Viewers are now accustomed to receiving more food than needed, the end result is throwing the rest away. This is not only wasteful, but incredibly inconsiderate.
Lastly, this may factor into mental health as well. As many already know, not everything seen on social media is true, yet people still compare themselves to the individuals online. For some, these videos may trigger feelings of insecurity. Thoughts like, “How can they eat so much but stay skinny?” may arise, exacerbating one’s body image issues, which are widespread in today’s society.
While mukbangs provide entertainment, their influence is ultimately extremely harmful. These videos encourage unhealthy eating habits, negatively impact one’s mental health and create a normalization of gluttony in society. Viewers must be wary of social media platforms and what they entertain themselves with, without knowing the potential consequences or impacts they may have on one’s physical and mental health.
