Pan Xiaoting, a 24-year-old livestreamer from China, tragically passed away on July 14th while broadcasting herself participating in a Mukbang challenge.
Mukbang is a popular online trend where hosts consume large amounts of food while interacting with viewers in real-time. Xiaoting’s livestreams were known for their length, sometimes lasting up to 10 hours, with her consuming around 10kg of food in a single sitting.
Despite warnings from her family and fans, Xiaoting continued to participate in these extreme eating challenges. An autopsy revealed a “deformed” stomach filled with undigested food, suggesting this ultimately contributed to her passing.
Social media has reacted with a mix of sadness and concern. Some users expressed sympathy for Xiaoting, while others criticized the dangers of such online feats and questioned their purpose.
In 2020, China implemented regulations to curb excessive consumption in Mukbang content, with fines for violators.
