A 24-year-old Chinese social media influencer has tragically died after building an online following of more than one million people.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Chen Ziyi, who was known online as Yingying, gained popularity by creating mukbang videos in which she consumed large quantities of food. She reportedly died on August 17, although officials have not disclosed her cause of death. Several outlets have reported that Yingying may have suffered cardiac arrest.
Social Media Influencer Dies After Revealing Health Struggles
Yingying's parents confirmed her death on September 4.
Just three days before her death, the influencer told followers that she had not been posting as frequently because doctors had hospitalized her due to low potassium levels.
In a video posted on August 14, reportedly from her hospital bed, Yingying revealed that she had previously experienced the same health problem.
She said her career as a mukbang influencer contributed to her health struggles after her blood potassium level dropped to 2.3 millimoles per liter, a dangerously low level.
According to Cleveland Clinic, typical adult potassium levels range from 3.5 to 5.2 millimoles per liter, while anything below 3 millimoles per liter can cause serious health problems.
Yingying also revealed that she had a long-time habit of vomiting the large quantities of food she consumed for her social media content.
Following her death, the popular influencer's social media accounts have reportedly been taken down.
Yingying Urged Fans to Put Their Health First
In her final video, Yingying urged her fans to take care of their health.
She stated that while "earning money is important, health should always come first."
Mukbang is a genre of online content that originated in South Korea and typically involves creators eating large quantities of food while interacting with viewers.
The word "mukbang" combines the Korean words "meokda" and "bangsong," which translate to eat and broadcast, respectively.
The genre became popular in South Korea during the early 2010s before developing into a global trend in the years that followed.
Creators from numerous countries have since attracted considerable audiences through mukbang content, with many turning the format into a lucrative career.
However, the genre has also faced growing criticism over concerns that it can promote unhealthy eating habits and contribute to food waste.
