A mukbang influencer has died aged 24 – three days after filming a haunting hospital-bed warning that “health comes first”.
Chen Ziyi, known to her 1.2million followers as Ganfan Yingying, had spoken openly about health problems she linked to making herself sick after eating huge meals on camera.
In her final video, posted from hospital on 14 August, Chen revealed her blood potassium level had plunged dangerously low.
She died three days later on 17 August.
Her devastated parents confirmed her death in an online notice on 4 September, although no official medical cause has been released.
Chen said her potassium level had fallen as low as 2.3 mmol/L, compared with a normal range of around 3.5 to 5.5 mmol/L.
It stood at 2.5 mmol/L when she arrived at A&E before rising to 3.3 mmol/L following treatment.
A mukbang is an online broadcast where a host eats large quantities of food while talking to or interacting with an audience.
The influencer admitted her health problems were linked to her mukbang work and said it was not the first time she had been hospitalised with the condition, as reported by Need To Know.
She told followers: “After repeatedly eating so much, my potassium dropped, so I was hospitalised.
“It may look glamorous on the surface, but behind the scenes you have to keep eating all night.
“Money is important, but health comes first forever, so please take good care of your bodies as well.
“Although making money is important, health should always come first.”
Chen, from Liaocheng in Shandong Province, China, had built a huge following on Chinese video platform Kuaishou, where she posted 169 videos.
She once reportedly ate between 60 and 70 preserved eggs during a single promotional livestream.
Chen had also spoken about the pressure on creators to consume increasingly large quantities of food in an effort to boost viewing figures.
A person familiar with the case claimed she suffered a cardiac arrest linked to prolonged low potassium levels.
However, her official cause of death has not been disclosed.
While binge eating itself does not typically cause potassium loss, repeated self-induced vomiting or laxative use can lead to severe hypokalaemia, which can trigger dangerous heart rhythm problems.
Dr Chai Qichen, of Zhejiang Hospital’s general practice department, warned that some mukbang creators purge after filming.
Chen’s heartbroken parents said: “In the bloom of youth, it ended too soon.
“May there be no more suffering in heaven. Rest well.
“Mum and Dad will always miss you.”
Her Kuaishou page has since been taken down.
Her death has renewed concerns about the potentially devastating health consequences behind extreme eating content.
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