Beware: Gov't wants to regulate your eating habits

Banzz, the popular host of a "mukbang," binge-eating shows with 25 million YouTube subscribers, eats spicy chicken during a broadcast. Korea Time file

By Lee Kyung-min

Opinion is split over the government's recent move to set up guidelines against what it deems "unhealthy eating habits," primarily targeting "mukbang," binge-eating shows that are available online.

Supporters of the move say regulations are needed to raise awareness about mindless overeating and the consequent health risks including obesity. However, those opposing it say the government's "simple-minded approach" lacks fundamental understanding about why such shows are popular -- especially with young women who are under enormous stress to stay "thin."

Others claim the move also infringes upon individual freedom of choice. The issue became politicized after Kim Byong-joon, an emergency committee chief of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, called the guideline plan "statism," adding individuals and businesses should be given more autonomy.

According to the anti-obesity measures unveiled last week, the government will set up guidelines against "media content encouraging excessive food consumption." Monitoring TV, radio and internet ads as well as a public campaign against "unhealthy lifestyles" will begin in the latter half of next year.

The measures came amid the rapid increase of obesity here. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the country's obesity rate for adults is expected to reach 41.5 percent in 2022, up from 34.8 percent in 2016. The OECD estimated that Korea's severe obesity rate will nearly double to 9 percent by 2030 from 5.3 percent in 2015.

"We are aware of the great influence mass media has on people," a ministry official said. "We will conduct a study to determine the correlation between watching such shows and the likelihood of choosing food of poor nutritional value. However, we are not seeking to impose regulations immediately."

The measure seeks to question the seemingly prevalent notion that nothing is wrong with "eating irresponsibly," he added. "TV programs that air eating shows will not be subject to the new guidelines. We target those showing people who eat far too much, beyond common sense. For example, those who eat dozens of bowls of noodles in one sitting, saying they are challenging themselves."

But there will be no punishment for those who fail to comply with the guidelines, he said, but expectations are that it will have just as much impact as the previous ones on smoking.

"Currently, TV stations do not air scenes involving smoking, or blur them when they must. The change came after the government recommended broadcasters refrain from producing such content, a guideline issued based on the well-known health risks of smoking. We hope our efforts will draw a similar response from online content producers."

Worried parents vs. adults' right to choose

Many parents say the government should consider the health of children whose preferences regarding food are heavily influenced by celebrities including YouTubers.

"I have an elementary school fourth-grader boy. He asked me for boxes of noodles and candies, saying he watched a famous YouTuber eating all of them in just one sitting. I was speechless. There should be regulations," said a 45-year-old mother of two.

However, a considerable number of mukbang fans say broad attempts to restrict online content infringe on their rights.

"While such a worry from concerned parents is understandable, imposing a blanket ban in the name of government guidelines is a simple violation of the freedom of choice," said an avid fan of mukbang, surnamed Lee. "I watch the shows precisely because I cannot eat like the hosts of the shows, fully knowing doing so will make my clothes tighter and my face chubby the next morning. I choose what I want to watch. I don't need the government to tell me what I can or cannot do."

Adults who have a sharp sense about weight gain would not mindlessly and excessively eat only because YouTubers do, and the government measure is simply disrespectful to people with self-control and self-discipline, she added. "The government should rather consider mandating a warning about obesity and other health risks at the bottom of the video clips. An outright ban is not the answer."

Those who cannot sate their need to eat under various circumstances, including Lee, are the core fan base of the eating shows, according to a popular mukbang host.

"One of my viewers, a nurse, sent me a message saying many of her patients who were not allowed or unable to eat following major operations watched my show to eat vicariously through me," Banzz, who has 25 million YouTube subscribers, said on social media.

Another avid mukbang fan surnamed Park, who is on a diet, said contrary to the government's presumptions, hosts' exchanging instant feedback with audiences about the taste, texture and flavor of the food through live-streaming increases the viewers' satisfaction of eating, albeit imaginary, helping them exercise greater self-restraint on limiting food intake.

"I recently started dieting, and there are times when I need to see someone eating food the way I used to. Watching the two- to three-hour shows makes me feel like I had the food myself, because the hosts describe the food in detail and make slurping or crunching noises when eating. That helps me better deal with being hungry," Park said.

Many others with critical views of the government measure filed petitions on Cheong Wa Dae's website.

"I have no faith in the government identifying watching mukbang as the main cause of obesity. By the same logic that people are becoming fatter because they repeat what they see online, I wonder why the world's birthrate does not soar when apparently a great number of people watch porn online," a petitioner wrote.

"If the government wants people to be healthy, it should instead consider allowing greater access to gyms at an affordable price or other policies. It should not waste taxpayers' hard-earned money."

The government trying to set up guidelines for an industry that promotes "unhealthy eating habits" is a step in the right direction, but measures should be age-specific, tailored more to inform children prone to repeating what they see without question, according to a Yonsei University professor who refused to be named.

"Different viewers watch eating shows for different reasons. Women on diets are highly likely to maintain caution against overeating, but children are not. Unhealthy eating habits formed early could continue well into later life. Discretion should be advised particularly in young viewers."

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