The tragic death of 24-year-old TikTok star Efecan Kultur has sparked renewed concerns about the dangers of the “mukbang” eating trend.
Efecan, from Turkey, gained popularity by posting videos in which he consumed enormous amounts of food, amassing over 150,000 followers with his Turkish cuisine showcases.
However, his fame ultimately led to a tragic end after a battle with obesity-related complications.
In December 2024, Kultur was hospitalized after struggling with severe health issues, including difficulty breathing and being bedridden.
His condition worsened to the point where he required a machine to breathe, and on March 7, 2025, he tragically passed away.
Mukbang, a trend that began in South Korea in the 2010s, involves content creators eating huge portions of food, often in front of a live audience.
While it gained popularity as a form of entertainment, the extreme consumption of food has led to several health issues and deaths among influencers.
Kultur’s passing follows the deaths of two other mukbang content creators in 2024. In July, Chinese influencer Pan Xiaoting, also 24, died after attempting a 10kg food challenge.
In June, Filipino influencer Dongz Apatan, 38, suffered a fatal stroke after attempting a challenge involving large portions of fried chicken.
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The mukbang trend has faced growing criticism for promoting dangerous eating habits and food waste. Some countries, including China, have banned the trend, with government leaders describing it as “distressing.”
A 2021 study found that watching mukbang videos could contribute to eating disorders, with many viewers adopting unhealthy eating habits.
Despite the backlash, some mukbang creators continue to defend the trend. Notable figures like Nikocado Avocado, who has also suffered health consequences from binge eating, have used their platforms to highlight the risks of such extreme challenges.
Others, like India’s Ashifa ASMR, have added disclaimers to their videos to clarify that their content is filmed across multiple sittings to avoid health complications.
Efecan Kultur’s untimely death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with extreme online challenges and the pressures faced by influencers to push their limits for content.
