Inside the dangerous world of extreme eating: After 24-year-old dies during 10-hour food binge livestream, how internet stars are making millions from overconsumption on camera – as experts warn mukbang clips ‘glorify self harm’

The dangers of extreme eating have once again hit the headlines following the tragic news that a 24-year-old died while live-streaming a 10-hour food binge last week.

Chinese content creator Pan Xiaoting died from a suspected stomach tear, after consuming some 122lb (1.5 stone) of food.

Her stomach had become severely deformed and filled with undigested food, according to autopsy results, suggesting that her stomach could have burst, causing stomach acid and food to leak into her abdomen.

Xiaoting was famous in China because of her live streams, during which she would eat massive amounts of sea food and chocolate cake among other items on camera.

It has been reported that she was once hospitalised after suffering gastric bleeding from overeating. But it is believed she returned to binging on food just one day after being discharged from the hospital.

Chinese content creator Pan Xiaoting (pictured) died tragically at the age of just 24 last week, while live streaming a 10-hour binge eating session

The trend of creating eating videos – known as mukbangs – originated in South Korea, and at first mainly appealed to people who would eat alongside the content creators.

However, the trend has become increasingly extreme, with mukbangers eating larger quantities of often unhealthy food, prompting doctors to warn that more people may die.

Xiaoting is not the first creator who lost their life at a tragically young age as a result of eating for views.

In January 2023, TikTok star Taylor Brice LeJeune (known online as Waffler69), who had some 1.7 million followers on the platform, died from a suspected heart attack.

Taylor, who was just 33-years-old at the time of his death, was known for his quirky food review videos, in which he would consume novelty foods as well as expired groceries, including promotional Addams Family cereal from the 90s.

Large quantities of canned cheeseburgers and a giant Froot Loop were among the foods he consumed online.

Speaking to MailOnline following Taylor’s death, UK general medicine practitioner Dr Zak Uddin said: ‘We are not at the door of an obesity epidemic, we’re well in the epidemic.

‘For us to be therefore glamorising vast calorific consumption or even binge eating is crazy isn’t it? You’re normalising the abnormal.

Another extreme eating content creator who lost their life at a tragically young age was Taylor LeJeune (pictured) who was 33-years-old when he died from a suspected heart attack

‘As a society, we enjoy the abnormal or the obscene. This isn’t a new thing. If it’s a freak show, people will gravitate towards it.’ 

While viewers may enjoy what Dr Uddin described as the ‘abnormal or the obscene’, what motivates those who engage in extreme eating activities? 

Danny Zane, a therapist at North London Therapy (www.northlondon-therapy.co.uk), told FEMAIL that there are a range of possible motivations.

‘Some people may use extreme eating challenges to seek attention, validation, or to fit in with a certain social group, driven by a desire for recognition or acceptance,’ he said.

‘Other forms of extreme eating, such as binge eating or restrictive eating, can stem from underlying psychological issues.’

For example, according to Danny, extreme eating is used by some people as a ‘coping mechanism for emotional distress, trauma, or low self-esteem’.

He continued: ‘These people may use food as a way to numb emotions, to gain a sense of control, or to seek comfort. 

‘Therapy is one way to help people address any underlying issues and to develop healthier relationships with food.’   

Perhaps the most well-known mukbanger on YouTube is Nicholas Perry – better known as Nikocado Avocado to his 3.8millon YouTube followers.

When he started his YouTube channel in 2016, the then-vegan content creator weighed around 160lb (11.4 stone).

However, he ditched his plant-based diet and started filming himself consuming huge amounts – usually junk or fast food including massive platters of burgers.

The 32-year-old, from Pennsylvania, is now reported to weigh around 350lb (25 stone) gaining almost 200lb (14.2 stone) over the last few years. 

It is also believed he has sleep apnea – a condition which causes sufferers to stop breathing in their sleep and is correlated with obesity – as he often wears a CPAP machine, which is used by those with the condition – in his videos.

During his high-drama videos, which have made him a multi-millionaire, Nicholas will often eat more than 10,000 calories in a single sitting.

One of the most famous YouTube Mukbangers is Nicholas Perry (pictured) known online as Nikocado Avocado. He has made millions of dollars from his extreme eating videos

In a typical mukbang video, Nikocado Avocado (pictured) will consume vast quantities of often unhealthy foods

BEFORE: At the beginning of his YouTube career, Nikocado Avocado weighed around 160lb (11.4 stone) he has reportedly gained around 200lb (14.2 stone) over the last few years

General recommendations (which are just guidelines, as height, weight and your activity level are among the factors which affect how many calories you need) suggest men should eat around 2,500 calories daily, and women 2,000.

While the trend is becoming increasingly popular, it is not new: as far back as 2019, health experts were warning about the dangers of extreme eating. 

As well as mukbang videos showing content creators eating massive amounts, other extreme eating content includes calorie challenges – which are popular among some fitness enthusiasts who will indulge in ‘cheat days’ in which they eat upwards of 10,000 calories, and competitive eating videos.

Speaking in 2019, Dr Naveed Sattar, Professor of Metabolic Medicine at the University of Glasgow, told the Telegraph that this type of content sends the message that ‘eating excess calories is fun to do’.

He continued: ‘The message it sends out to people is that eating excess calories is fun to do. This is not good because many people are battling to not put weight on.

‘Eating large amounts increases blood fats and the chances of having a heart attack in susceptible individuals.

‘The message it sends out to society is the same as when people binge with alcohol and glorify it.’

He concluded that this glorification of binge eating is ‘wrong’, and sends a bad message to society.

Dr Andrew Harris, a senior lecturer of psychology at Nottingham Trent University, also believes that this type of content can be dangerous.

Speaking after the recent death of Pan Xiaoting, Dr Harris said: ‘Mukbang videos centre around consumption and indulgence, potentially reinforcing a cycle of overeating or unhealthy food relationships.’

It has been reported that Pan Xiaoting (pictured) weight around 660lb (47.1 stone) at the time of her death 

The 24-year-old content creator (pictured) would make live streams during which she would eat for up to 10-hours

He added: ‘While some studies suggest that watching mukbang videos can alleviate feelings of loneliness by providing a sense of social connection or companionship, others indicate that excessive consumption of these videos may exacerbate loneliness by substituting deeper real-life social interactions with more superficial virtual ones.’ 

In addition, he said, watching people gorge themselves on unhealthy foods can reinforce unhealthy eating habits.

The videos ‘centre around consumption and indulgence, potentially reinforcing a cycle of overeating or unhealthy food relationships’, he added.

And registered dietitian Katie Lopez agreed, describing the videos as a grotesque display of gluttony and self-harm, telling MailOnline that they are ‘another example of the glorification of self-harming behaviour’.

She added: ‘More specifically, these people are at risk for stomach perforation, significant elevations in glucose and lipids, acid/base disorders, electrolyte shifts, dehydration, and heart rate abnormalities.’