To Mukbang or Not To Mukbang
A mukbang is a food ASMR video where people tend to eat an absurd amount of food in one sitting that is usually extremely messy. Mukbang's tend to be with food from fast food restaurants such as, tacobell, wingstop, canes, etc. The word “mukbang” is a korean word that means “eating show.” That essentially sums up what mukbangs are.
Mukbang’s started off in South Korea in 2014 and grew to be the global trend we know today. A mukbang isn’t a cooking show in which the food is prepared, it focuses more on the host sharing their meal with the viewers while they consume an ungodly amount of it.
Downsides of Mukbangs:
The most concerning aspect of mukbangs are related to viewing becoming obsessive and possibly self-destructive.
A person’s consumption norms can be affected by watching too many mukbang videos. In one study of people who watch mukbangs frequently, 32.6% of those studies showed that mukbangs had a strong influence on their health.
Viewers express jealousy and awe while watching mukbang videos: When watching mukbangs, thin, fit hosts generally eat a lot of food without gaining weight. However, viewers may be unaware of the hosts' strategies, such as fasting before a heavy meal to limit anticipated weight gain. Editing in recorded mukbang videos may also be used to conceal the fact that the presenter is not finishing the complete amount of food depicted or in one sitting.
Mukbang may encourage restricted eating or cause a relapse into disordered eating (activities like binge eating, vomiting, and laxative abuse): Researchers defined mukbang as a "planned in advance famished eating episode performed for a virtual audience." In this scenario, watching mukbang may increase eating among individuals with previous experiences of binge and out-of-control eating.
Mukbang may cause compulsive and self-destructive behavior: As with other types of internet-based entertainment, certain viewers may develop a need to continue viewing as a damaging approach to relieve boredom. Viewing may also become an alternative for in-person conversations.
Written by: Chloe