The Division of Well being (DOH) is considering a ban on ‘mukbang’ or consuming vlogs following the tragic dying of a meals content material creator in Iligan. Dongz Apatan, a vlogger who produced mukbang movies, handed away from a stroke on June 13, prompting well being officers to re-evaluate the implications of such content material on public well being.
Well being Secretary Teddy Herbosa issued a public well being warning relating to mukbang movies, highlighting the dangers related to overeating, which is a central factor of those movies. “It’s a nasty observe as a result of individuals make content material by overeating. Overeating is just not wholesome. It’s going to result in weight problems,” Herbosa said. He additional elaborated on the long-term well being dangers, noting, “And weight problems will result in hypertension, coronary heart circumstances, non-communicable ailments, and even coronary heart assaults.”
Herbosa emphasised that research have proven watching mukbang movies can result in consuming problems or web dependancy. He expressed concern over the affect of such content material, saying, “As a result of different individuals copy it. Different individuals may even do the identical as a result of they earn cash from doing a video weblog of mukbang. So, it’s dangerous for them.” The potential hyperlink between Apatan’s dying and his mukbang actions has raised alarms, main the DOH to contemplate regulatory actions.
The Well being Secretary didn’t mince phrases relating to the potential ban, evaluating mukbang to ‘meals pornography’ as a result of its promotion of unhealthy consuming habits. “You’re selling unhealthy habits to the Filipinos….I can ban it regionally. I can suggest banning mukbang regionally. Even ask the DICT to cease these websites,” Herbosa declared. He pressured that whereas incomes earnings from content material creation is suitable, it shouldn’t come at the price of public well being. “In case you’re incomes from one thing that may be a public well being risk, I must cease you,” he added.
Nevertheless, not everybody agrees with the proposed ban.
Outstanding meals vlogger Richard defended mukbang movies, declaring their constructive impression on sure viewers. “Might mga viewers po kami na could mga sakit, mga walang gana pong kumain, na nagpapasalamat po sa amin dahil nagkakaroon po sila ng gana kapag napapanood po yung mga video namin. Siyempre, yun po yung nagiging gasolina namin eh. Para magtuluy-tuloy, [We have viewers who are sick and have no appetite, and they thank us because they get their appetite back when they watch our videos. Of course, that becomes our fuel to keep going.]” he defined. Richard additionally highlighted the self-discipline practiced by many mukbang content material creators, stating, “Isang beses lang po ako nakain sa isang araw. Tapos, naglo-low carb pa po ako. Disiplinado po kasi kami. So kahit naman yung mga common na tao depende po yan sa ating ating disiplina sa pagkain. [I only eat once a day. Also, I follow a low-carb diet. We are disciplined. So, even for regular people, it all depends on our discipline with food.]”
In response to the controversy, YouTube, a serious platform for mukbang movies, has asserted its dedication to monitoring content material that would promote consuming problems. The platform is reviewing its insurance policies and content material extra stringently to handle these well being issues.
As the talk continues, the DOH’s potential ban on mukbang movies underscores a broader dialog in regards to the accountability of content material creators and platforms in selling wholesome behaviors. The well being implications of mukbang, notably its potential to encourage overeating and associated well being points, stay a major concern for public well being officers.
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