Mukbang modus

Health experts have warned of the dangers of “mukbang,” one of the trending challenges on social media. The binge-eating or overeating stunt, which started in South Korea, was blamed by the Department of Health for the hemorrhagic stroke that killed a 37-year-old food content creator in June, according to a post on the website of the Manila Doctors Hospital.

In a video about a mukbanger’s accident reported on “AHA,” a doctor enumerated the potential medical problems that can be caused by binge eating to warn people not to overeat. These include bloatedness, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gastric irritation, gastroesophageal reflux disease and hypertension.

There is another danger that mukbangers face. Content creator Robert de los Santos was devouring a whole lechon during his live show on his YouTube channel, “Diskarteng Basic,” when a piece of meat got stuck in his throat and he choked. Fortunately, he was able to expel the obstruction and breathe again.

The scary video went viral, racking up 20 million views for De los Santos, whose main source of income is creating mukbang videos that earn him six figures a month.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old South Korean man was sentenced to one year in prison for overeating.

A court in Seoul found the man guilty of evading military service when his weight categorized him as unfit for combat duty during a physical exam in June 2023.

Under South Korea’s Military Service Act, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 35 are required to serve at least 18 months. Exempted are those who are obese.

The man apparently doubled his daily food intake and drank large amounts of water immediately before his physical to weigh 100 kilos and receive a grade 4 assessment, which disqualified him from a combat role, the Korea Herald reported.