EXPERTS warned against consuming extreme amounts of food and recommended healthy diets after a mukbang vlogger in Iligan City died of a stroke. Based on a GMA news report , Vlogger Dongz Apatan, a well-known mukbang vlogger with over 400,000 followers on Facebook, suffered a stroke on June 14 after eating fried chicken.

The genre became popular in South Korea in the early 2010s, and has become a global trend since the mid-2010s. Varieties of foods ranging from pizza to noodles are consumed in front of a camera. The purpose of mukbang is also sometimes educational, introducing viewers to regional specialties or gourmet spots.

This has led many of the viewers of mukbang to have unrealistic beliefs, which has resulted in a significant increase in the amount of food they consume. This can ultimately lead to negative results such as obesity, and it can also oftentimes trigger disordered eating behaviors.

According to a GMA 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz on Friday, Apatan was rushed to the hospital but died the next day. Apatan’s sister Leah admitted that Dongz had high blood pressure, but stated that he didn’t eat much and also ate non-fatty food.

In my own humble opinion , the viewers should know that mukbang can promote unhealthy habits and trigger disordered eating in those who have those problems.

Effects of Social Media

Apatan’s sister, Leah, also said in the interview that his death was being disrespected on social media.

“Nasasaktan talaga kami na ginagawa siyang katatawanan ng mga tao, na parang walang respeto dahil sa content na kinukuha na hindi tama ang info,” explained Leah.

“Kasi andaming comment na si Manoy lang daw kasi deserve daw mamatay dahil gahaman sa pagkain, pero content lang naman ‘yan. Hindi talaga malakas kumain. Hindi rin niya inuubos din. Hindi gahaman si Manoy. Marami siyang natulungan.”

Leah called on the public for help with the schooling of Apatan’s three children.

Personal View

I believe his death was caused by a hemorrhagic stroke. I was interviewed by GMA news on the said unfortunate incident.

I quote : “According to the doctors na nakakita siya sa emergency room, nagkaroon siya ng blood clots sa brain. So, ibig sabihin tumaas ang blood pressure niya [at] pumutok yung ugat sa brain niya. So, ang kinamatay niya, eh, hemorrhagic stroke,” said Leachon.

He warned that extreme consumption of food, especially red meat, may lead to similar circumstances. He thus recommended a standard meal serving.

“Maalat [kasi] ang kinakain. Pangalawa, siyempre, ang pagkain niyan, eh, karne. Everyday mo gagawin yan. So, magbabara yung ugat mo rin sa brain. So, stroke pa rin, eh, kamamatay mo yan.

And then, the other one, pwede ka rin magka-heart attack,” said Leachon.

– GMA report

Ideal or Healthy Food Plate

I stressed in the GMA interview to encourage the public to adhere to healthy eating habits.

“Mas preferred natin ang fish and chicken over red meat. And then, almost half of the plate ay gulay. Tapos, eh, prutas,” he added.

I also advised against the effects of mukbang vlogs, which may lead to complications for individuals attempting to copy the content in real life.

So, siguro, ito’y lessons learned para sa ating lahat. Pag naging habit ito, ah, your habits kasi dictates your behavior, and your behavior determines your destiny as well, eh. Um, ang pagkain talaga, pag sobra, hindi maganda. Lalo na pagka maalat, mataba, at matamis.

Studies showed that consistently watching mukbangs, derived from the Korean terms for “eat” and “broadcast”, may lead to an eating disorder or internet addiction.

In previous years, video sharing platform YouTube has also cracked down on similar content promoting “eating disorders.”

Review of Literature

In a review of literature, researchers at the Nottingham Trent University examined the psychology behind the popularity of mukbang videos. They found a whole host of reasons, from providing entertainment and an escape from real life to more serious reasons, such as helping to compensate for social needs.

In a world increasingly penetrated by online media, our findings linking mukbang viewing and disordered eating may inform clinical diagnoses and treatments of eating disorders. Future studies establishing directionality of the relationship between mukbang viewing behaviors and eating disorder pathology are warranted.

Mukbang videos often feature a host consuming large amounts of food. This is potentially dangerous. People tend to develop abnormal eating habits , mukbang viewing behaviors and disordered eating pathology, Studies have found associations between certain viewing habits and disordered eating symptoms. Given the health consequences of eating disorders and potentially problematic consequences of certain online media, this sad incident can enhance clinical understanding of individuals with disordered eating who engage in certain online media, like mukbang.

Prayers

We send our deepest sympathies and prayers to the family of Dongz Apatan and hope that healthy video blogs will be encouraged by media influencers to curb the epidemic of lifestyle diseases like stroke and heart attacks.

Reference : GMA news report

Anthony C. Leachon, M. D.

Independent Health Reform Advocate

Past President ,
Philippine College of Physicians

Department of Internal Medicine
Manila Doctors Hospital