A popular influencer known as Pan Xiaoting died after she binged on food and filmed herself eating for several hours.
Even though her parents warned her about filming such videos, she continued to do so, and on July 14, she passed away.
According to an autopsy report, Xiaoting’s death was caused by a distorted stomach that was filled with undigested food.
Her dangerous eating habits were part of a livestream trend known as Mukbang, which originated from South Korea during the 2000s.
In this type of livestream, hosts are required to consume large amounts of food to interact with their viewers.
According to China News, Xiaoting had been a hospital patient before due to gastrointestinal bleeding.
Despite these issues, she continued to livestream her dangerous eating habits. Her sudden death has caused mixed reactions on social media.
Some people blamed her for her over-consumption, while others noted that it highlighted the dangerous ways people go to get online fame.
Some people criticized the idea of encouraging dangerous practices, while others said they were disgusted by how people would watch videos of individuals eating.
One person noted that the actions of individuals who promote obesity are contributing factors to the issue of hunger in the world.
In 2020, China implemented regulations aimed at restricting the amount of food that can be consumed on livestreams.
After President Xi Jinping of China called for the country to adopt a more sustainable approach to food consumption, the government imposed penalties on those who encourage customers to order excessive amounts of food. Those caught violating the rules could face a fine of up to 10,000 Yuan ($1,376).
Maya Feller, a registered dietician, said that the increasing number of followers and views for livestreaming content creators puts a heavy burden on them to carry out the same behavior. She warned that doing so could lead to future health issues.