The key facts

  • Neuropsychologist Anastasia Muza linked the calming effect of mukbangs to the basic need for food and the feeling of sharing a meal
  • Loneliness may motivate people to film such videos, while viewers are drawn by a sense of belonging to a social group
  • Psychiatrist-narcologist Maria Kasperovich previously warned that strict control over eating and workouts may indicate an eating disorder

Why food videos are calming

Watching mukbangs — videos in which people eat on camera — can give viewers a sense of calm and pleasure. Neuropsychologist Anastasia Muza said this in a conversation with NSN, as reported by Gazeta.Ru. According to her, eating is tied to satisfying one of a person's basic needs, and many people want to share the positive emotions from food with those around them.

Loneliness and the social effect

Muza noted that people experiencing loneliness may film such videos themselves — this creates a sense of sharing a meal together. Viewers, in turn, are drawn by the opportunity to feel part of a social group. The sound component also plays an additional role: the rhythmic low-frequency sounds that accompany such videos can have a calming effect on the nervous system.

The flip side: when control over food becomes a problem

The topic of eating in the public sphere also has an alarming side. Psychiatrist-narcologist Maria Kasperovich previously told Gazeta.Ruthat behind an outwardly healthy lifestyle an eating disorder may be hiding. According to her, if skipping a workout causes anxiety, and an occasional dessert triggers guilt and 'punishment' with extra exercise, this is no longer about health but about pathological control. She also spoke about a concept that helps fit unhealthy food into one's diet.