The Issue with Mukbang

Medicine Community & Research
MME Networks
Published in
4 min readMar 12, 2024

By: Eric Wang, Heymin (David) Han

Image by Tatsiana Volkava from iStock

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital content material, one fashion that has taken the sector by storm is ‘mukbang’. Originating from South Korea, mukbang, a portmanteau of the Korean words for ‘ingesting’ and ‘broadcast’, involves hosts ingesting massive quantities of food while interacting with their target audience.

While this phenomenon has won a mammoth reputation, it also raises important questions about its impact on fitness, both physical and mental. As a health-centered publication, we discover it vital to delve into this trend, dissect its enchantment, and speak about its implications on dietary behavior and general well-being.

In this newsletter, we intend to provide a balanced angle on mukbang, exploring its cultural importance, the psychology behind its recognition, and most significantly, its fitness implications. We aim to equip our readers with the knowledge to navigate this trend in a manner that prioritizes their fitness and well-being.

The mukbang fashion is a testament to the electricity of the net in shaping our meals subculture. It has grown to become eating, a simple human necessity, right into a shape of amusement that millions of music into. The hosts, called ‘Broadcast Jockeys’, frequently eat meals that some distance exceed the advocated day-by-day caloric intake, all whilst keeping a lively interaction with their visitors.

However, the health implications of this trend cannot be disregarded. Regular intake of excessive food, frequently high in fat, sugar, and salt, can lead to a myriad of health troubles along with weight problems, heart sickness, and diabetes. Moreover, the normalization of overeating can potentially cause disordered ingesting patterns among impressionable visitors.

Photo by Towfiqu Barbhuiya on Unsplash

On the other hand, mukbangs have been praised for their function in assuaging loneliness and presenting an experience of companionship. For many, looking at those movies replicates the experience of sharing a meal with others, an issue that’s particularly substantial in today’s socially distanced international.

As we navigate the mukbang phenomenon, it’s critical to strike stability. While we respect the experience of the community it fosters, it’s equally vital to promote wholesome eating behavior and an advantageous relationship with food. As purchasers of virtual content material, we must continue to be knowledgeable and important of the tendencies we interact with.

In the subsequent sections, we will pay attention to nutritionists and psychologists, to benefit from comprehensive information on this trend and its effect on our health. Most nutritionists and psychologists agree that mukbang promotes binge ingesting, mainly due to obesity, overeating, and more than one meal disorder. A famous YouTube content material creator, and dietitian, Abbey Sharp, comments that “Binge eating disorder is an actual mental disorder, and I have to say, this YouTube trend is fully glorifying it”. As a fitness-targeted agency, we agree with psychologists and nutritionists as they’re licensed fitness specialists due to the simple fitness issues that may arise from this unhealthy trend.

The mukbang fashion from South Korea has captured the attention of global audiences through its unique mixture of food consumption and broadcast conversation. While mukbang provides an experience of entertainment and networking, we can not ignore the negative fitness results. As a health-prioritizing company, we promote wholesome consuming behaviors and picks. We agree that individuals can watch mukbang for amusement, but we want mukbang watchers to take into account the terrible fitness results of this and to method it with moderation and awareness of its capacity influences on their bodily and mental well-being.

Sources:

Dus, S. (2023). Is mukbang dangerous? viewing the health risks. bistroMD. https://www.bistromd.com/blogs/nutrition/what-is-mukbang-and-what-you-need-to-know-about-it

Garone, S. (2023, May 4). Why Dietitians are concerned about the popularity of mukbang videos. Health. https://www.health.com/mukbang-videos-side-effects-7488540

Vargas, A. (2022, June 28). What do parents need to know about mukbang?. Mobicip. https://www.mobicip.com/blog/what-is-mukbang-is-it-safe

Branyon, F. (2019, June 17). The rise of Mukbang in the US: Dangers and benefits. Dr. Fredda Branyon. https://www.freddabranyon.com/blog/the-rise-of-mukbang-in-the-us-dangers-and-benefits/

Smart, A. (2023, March 15). What is Mukbang? exploring the cultural phenomenon and its impact on society. Avosmart Parental Control Guide. https://avosmart.com/blog/what-is-mukbang/

Jackson, K. (2021, April 5). What is “mukbang”? inside the viral Korean food phenomenon. TODAY.com. https://www.today.com/food/what-mukbang-inside-viral-korean-food-phenomenon-t123251

Won, G. (2023, October 10). What is Mukbang? unlock 10 secrets for an amazing experience. Mukbang Shows Restaurant Korean BBQ And Seafood. https://mukbangshow.ae/features/what-is-mukbang/

Mazzetti, A. (2021, January 19). Mukbang meaning. Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/e/pop-culture/mukbang/

Go, F. (2023, August 24). What’s the deal with Korean mukbang?fleet https://www.fleetdeliverykorea.com/post/what-is-korean-mukbang image source: The today show in recent years, one cultural phenomenon has taken the world by storm — Korean mukbang. originating in South Korea, this trend of watching people eat copious amounts of food while interacting with their viewers has become a global sensation. Mukbang has evolved into a social and cultural phenomenon that has captivated millions of people across various platforms. in this blog post, we’ll explore the popularity of Korean mukbang in 2023, its fascinating appeal, the Evo. Fleet. https://www.fleetdeliverykorea.com/post/what-is-korean-mukbang

Sharp, A. (2019, November 6). Why the mukbang trend is glorifying eating disorders. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2pYg76yi7I

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