ORLANDO, Fla. – Videos of people eating large quantities of food, known as mukbang, have grown very popular online.
What are the health concerns around this trend? Registered dietitian Sara Riehm says the potentially negative influence of these feasting videos can be especially triggering for certain people.
She says while made for entertainment, more often than not, mukbang can send the wrong message about healthy choices and portions.
“This type of content could be OK. They can watch, scroll past or it may be something they enjoy that doesn’t affect them. Or maybe you are predisposed to an eating disorder or binge eating disorder and this content could be really triggering. It’s very important to be mindful and check in with yourself. How is this making you feel, not only in your body, but in your mind psychologically,” Riehm said.
In addition to healthy food choices and serving sizes, Riehm says you should train yourself to be mindful during meals, savor each bite and stay aware of your hunger and fullness cues.
Watch the full interview at the top of this story.