- Since 1975 obesity has nearly tripled worldwide.
- It is currently estimated that more than 1.9 billion adults aged 18 and over are overweight, of whom more than 650 million are obese.
- The biggest danger of social networks is that the so-called influencers are seen as role models by millions of people.
The exponential growth of the internet has allowed everyone to be connected today. Never before in history has it been possible to have so much knowledge within the reach of a click. But although the benefits are multiple, there are also several negative aspects that technology has brought. One of the most recent cases causing concern among doctors is the new viral challenge known as mukbang and which promotes the mass consumption of junk food.
In this sense, today social networks play an important influence on all people. According to Statista, the most popular in the world is Facebook having registered 2.9 billion active users. Since the platform began during the first decade of the 21st century, its growth has been constant.
Now, not everything is good news for this social network. In recent years, it has received strong criticism and sanctions for the use it has given to the personal information of its users. It has even suffered massive theft of sensitive data. All this has undermined its credibility to the point that its creator, Mark Zuckerberg, changed the platform’s name to Meta.
On the other hand, beyond the social networks, the real problem is the use that each person gives to each platform. The utilities are endless and range from staying informed to functioning as entertainment media.
With this in mind, viral challenges are becoming more frequent. Some have emerged as proposals focused on raising awareness about certain health problems. One of the most famous cases was the Ice Bucket Challenge, born in 2014 by the American Corey Griffin. His goal was to give visibility to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosisa progressive degenerative disease that attacks motor neurons.
On the other hand, there are also other examples that work as what should not be done to put people’s health at risk. Such is the case of the new fashion known as mukbang and which consists of making a video transmission in which large amounts of junk food are eaten in a short time.
These types of challenges have existed for decades and have even been used as a method of promoting restaurants. There are even celebrations in some places where prizes are offered to those who manage to eat more in less time.
The difference is that now the entire process is broadcast live through digital platforms. With the rise of social networks like YouTube, Twitch and TikTok that allow live recording, it has become a new trend that attracts young people.
@baby_pig_rabbit 진진짜라 ~ 4 봉지 에 후라이 🍳 파김치 너무 맛있어서 다 먹어서… 지울까 말까 고민 올려 요 🥲 죄송합니다 ㅜ 흑 .. 🙇♀️ i’ll Eat 4 Bags of Jjajang Ramen With Fried Eggs and Green Onion Kimchi. #틱톡순삭 #틱톡먹방 #틱톡푸드 #asmr #foryou #fyp #food #tiktokmukbang #mukbang #tiktokfood #돼끼 #추천
For their part, some digital creators have adopted this viral challenge as a lifestyle to attract subscribers. The problem is not only that they risk their own integrity but also they make others understand that what they do is correct and many imitate them.
The TikTok user known as Gal Akbari has positioned herself as one of the extreme cases of mukbang and junk food. For the past two years, she has toured the most famous chains in the United States to consume as much food as possible in the shortest possible time. Although he is a hit on the platform and has amassed millions of subscribers, his well-being is now at risk.
@ashyizzle I always crave the food when I edit my videos 🥲🦞 | @thevikingsboilingseafood #mukbang #seafoodboil
♬ Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
But it is not the only influencer who has fallen into the dangerous challenge of mukbang and junk food. For this reason, various doctors have raised their voices to warn about the risks involved in people who are admired by others doing this type of action.