Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 22 Jul 2024
Chinese Mukbang Streamer Dies During A Livestream: What Happens To Your Body When You Overeat?
Several experts say even if it is rare to eat yourself to death, it is not theoretically impossible(Pic: X)
A 24-year-old Chinese mukbang streamer, died during a live broadcast, allegedly due to overeating. News reports say during the fatal broadcast, Pan Xiaoting collapsed and died. An autopsy revealed severe abdominal deformation and a stomach full of undigested food. Chinese news outlet Hankyung has reported the cause of death attributed to overeating.
News reports say Pan was well-known for her extreme eating challenges and would consume food for ten hours straight without breaks. Once, she even ate 22 pounds of food in multiple meals. Previously, her eating habits had led to hospitalization for gastric bleeding, but she resumed creating mukbang content the day after her discharge.
What is mukbang?
Mukbang is a social media trend where creators eat large quantities of food on camera, livestreaming for their fans and followers. Even though it has been controversial due to health risks, many followers encourage influencers to keep up with the trend. Recently, the world's most followed YouTuber PewDiePie criticised mukbang eaters for promoting obesity through their eating videos
What happens when you overeat?
According to health experts, many people eat more than usual, either just out of habit or with heightened stress and anxiety. Sometimes, you may like the taste of the dish but if it is a regular phenomenon, overeating can be dangerous.
Doctors say it takes around 20 minutes for your brain to send a signal to the stomach to let you know that you are full. However, despite that signal, if you keep eating, it can lead to unwanted weight gain, which carries the risk of many underlying health issues and can even be fatal.
Overeating can cause the following issues:
- When you eat large amounts of food, an expanded stomach pushes against other organs, making you uncomfortable, tired, sluggish, or drowsy
- Eating too much can make your organs work harder
- Overeating contributes to making you overweight and obese
- Overeating can cause hydrochloric acid in the stomach to back up into the esophagus resulting in heartburn
- Consuming too much food that is high in fat, like pizza and burgers can cause gas
Can you die of overeating?
Several experts say even if it is rare to eat yourself to death, it is not theoretically impossible. Renowned gastroenterologist from Stanford University School of Medicine John O. Clarke believes that the stomach is thicker muscled than any other segment of the gut and is built to expand.
It typically accommodates to try and deal with large meals, and if you extend the stomach too much, then you usually trigger vomiting. It happens sometimes, but if you overeat one large meal, you may usually get massive stomach expansion and can even cause esophageal rupture.