So, there’s this wild phenomenon blowing up online where young people are literally eating themselves to death for TikTok fame and cash. Enter the “Mukbangers”—yes, that’s a thing—and they’re just the tip of a much larger, way more bizarre, and scary iceberg. Welcome to the world of “Feeders.”

Feeling a bit lost in the madness? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. We’re about to dive into this strange, wild, and downright dangerous world together. But let’s be real—this isn’t just some internet freak show. What’s happening to these young people is terrifying, and the scariest part? They’re doing it to themselves, all for internet fame and cash. 

Case in point: a young woman recently died while live-streaming her latest binge for her fans. She ate so much food that her stomach literally tore open, and she passed away right there, on camera, in front of thousands. Yes, it’s as horrifying as it sounds. Her name was Pan Xiaoting, and she was a 24-year-old Chinese online influencer who ate herself to death for her fans.

So, what exactly is mukbanging? It’s a trend that originated in South Korea in the mid-2000s, where the “host” devours a massive amount of food live on camera. Over the past decade, it’s gone global, gaining a cult-like following—and now, it’s getting downright deadly.

And why were so many of her fans cheering? Because in the darkest corners of the “feederism” community, the twisted endgame is to watch the mukbanger—or “feedee”—literally eat themselves to death.

According to Urban Dictionary, here’s how feederism is defined:

An underground sexual fetish which involves one partner (the feeder) feeding the other, both to obtain sexual arousal and to encourage weight gain in the feedee. Feederism can vary in nature, from a consensual act between two people who mutually appreciate a larger body type, to non-consensual abuse, which may involve force-feeding and bondage and is undertaken with the intention of fattening up the feedee to the point of immobility and total dependence. The weight gained can also vary from a few pounds to hundreds, whilst some feeder relationships are not undertaken with the purpose of weight gain at all but for the enjoyment of food in an intimate context.

Back in the day, these folks were known as “chubby chasers” or “fat lovers.” But thanks to the internet, what was once a closet kink has morphed into a powerful, seedy movement. It’s pulling in young women, who are gorging on mountains of unhealthy food and packing on hundreds of pounds—all to satisfy the mostly male “feeders” and fuel their twisted sexual domination fantasies.

The Sun:

Feeder relationships are relationships that fall under the fat fetishism category.

A fat fetish sees an individual derive sexual pleasure from their partner being overweight or obese.

Feeder relationships are unique as it is not just the size of the body that they find attractive but also the journey to obesity.

According to a report in the National Library of Medicine, feederism is a “fat fetish subculture” in which individuals “eroticise weight gain and feeding”.

The paper goes on to explain that feeders become sexually aroused by feeding their partners and encouraging them to gain weight while feedees are individuals who claim to become turned on by eating, being fed, and the idea or act of gaining weight.

Most feedees are female whilst feeders tend to be males – though this is not always the case.

This disturbing phenomenon has crept out from the shadows of shady webcam sites—where feedees are paid to gorge themselves on camera and indulge in erotic “belly touching” while feeders shower them with food, gifts, and cash—and into the limelight of platforms like OnlyFans and, more recently, the juggernaut that is TikTok. In other words, it’s gone mainstream.

Very young women, like this once vibrant girl who goes by the handle “Jelly Bean,” are being drawn into this dark and dangerous world by the allure of money and fame. In just one year, Jelly Bean has traded her healthy teen physique for the far less healthy “feedee” or “mukbang” look, and people are noticing and getting worried.

Some might argue that mukbangers like Jelly Bean aren’t raking in massive amounts of cash directly from their TikTok engagement, and sure, that might be true from a logistical standpoint. But the reality is, feeders are more than willing to send food, gifts, or money—whatever it takes to keep their favorite feedee or mukbanger going. And with a platform as large as TikTok, it’s possible to build a massive following, as Jelly Bean has clearly shown.

What’s truly heartbreaking and shocking is that many of these women are literally making themselves sick—developing diseases that will haunt them for a lifetime and potentially shorten their lives—and yet, they don’t seem to care. The lure of this “feeder” community is so powerful that they’re willing to sacrifice their health, damaging their bodies for the twisted amusement and perversion of others.

Some women aren’t setting their sights very high—they’re content just getting free food and cigarettes from their feeder.

But that’s because this fetish isn’t always about personal gain. More often than not, it plays out in a twisted “master/slave” dynamic.

Vice:

Though those who ascribe to it sometimes describe this fetish as a ‘sexual orientation’, the psychological underpinnings of the predilection are reminiscent of, if not within, the realm of BDSM culture. The feeder obtains a sense of power and dominance through the act of feeding and subsequently being responsible for the change in their partner’s body, the end goal often resulting in severe obesity, loss of mobility, and an inability to perform even the most mundane life tasks without their partner’s assistance. Feedees often feel a great degree of agency in their decisions to gain weight. Fatness is an obvious taboo within our culture; actively deciding to gain weight, is, therefore, the ultimate act of agency and transgression.

It doesn’t take a doctor to realize that mukbanging and feederism are unhealthy on many levels.

Bistro MD:

Some mukbang hosts normalize unhealthy eating behaviors. Like any sort of media, mukbang videos show a highlight or a small portion of the host’s life. 

Thin hosts may be participating in disordered eating outside of taping, healthy hosts may be participating in supportive behaviors—like exercise or an otherwise well-balanced diet—that aren’t being shared, and larger hosts may hide troubling symptoms to appease and entertain their audience. Remember, the camera doesn’t always show real life. 

Since hosts often eat an excessive amount of food in one sitting, research looking into mukbang suggests that it may promote binge eating. This can be doubly dangerous—it can enable overeaters to continue overeating (to the point of overweight or obesity), and those who aren’t eating enough to live vicariously through those who are eating more than enough. Basically, mukbang can enforce extreme eating behaviors on both sides of the spectrum. 

While women are traditionally the primary “feedee” or mukbang demographic, there are always exceptions to the rule. One such exception is a young man who went from being a healthy, fit guy who loved to talk about food to a mukbanger now tipping the scales at over 300 pounds. Thanks to his massive weight gain, he’s now dealing with serious health issues and is even struggling to breathe and move around. Nick’s transformation is downright frightening. Take a look:

Nick’s once-healthy friend has also undergone a drastic transformation over the years, thanks to mukbanging.

Sadly, at the end of the day, these feedees and mukbangers are performing for their supper while their masters toss coins their way.

And while everything I’ve shared with you is already concerning, there’s actually an even more disturbing layer to this creepy online phenomenon: abuse. One well-known YouTube mukbanger recently revealed that her ex-boyfriend forced her to gorge herself on camera. It might sound outrageous, but there are countless stories like this—women claiming they’re being “forced” into mukbanging by abusive men.

Supporters of mukbanging might argue that the trend started as a way for people to eat together and socialize. And sure, that may have been true once, but let’s be real—it’s morphed into something entirely different now. Meanwhile, defenders of the feederism movement might say, “Well, people know smoking is bad for them, but they still do it, and they’re not vilified for being unhealthy.” But I’d counter that, yes, smokers are actually vilified—but there’s a critical difference these defenders are overlooking: comparing mukbangers to smokers is like comparing apples to, well, a mountain of junk food. Sure, both activities are unhealthy and can shorten lives, but mukbanging is a performance designed to satisfy the twisted desires of others, often pushing participants to dangerous extremes. Smoking is a personal choice with known risks, but mukbanging is often driven by external pressures and financial incentives, turning self-destruction into a spectacle for profit. The two are worlds apart.

In a world where exploitation and abuse are rampant and so many people are struggling just to get by, it’s disturbingly decadent—and downright counterproductive—to use food, a basic necessity that many go without, to satisfy twisted sexual cravings. Worse still, this indulgence often comes at the expense of others, causing real harm in the process.

Till next time, be wickedly wonderful.