What happened to Efecan Kultur? TikTok 'mukbang' star dies at 24

Efecan Kultur gained popularity on TikTok by capitalizing on his mukbang videos, a type of content where people eat huge quantities of food on camera while interacting with their audience. He gained fame by doing high-calorie challenges, garnering over 155,000 followers. His popularity on the internet coincided with growing concern over the health consequences of overconsumption.

At the end of 2024, Kultur was reported to be afflicted with serious health problems, such as mobility and respiratory disorders. He was hospitalized in December and was under treatment for three months. He died on March 7, 2025.

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Declining health and hospitalization

Kultur's death has raised controversy regarding the physical effects of overeating challenges. Although mukbang videos became popular globally, health professionals cite that excessive intake of food is a potential factor in developing related health issues, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic conditions. His instance has fueled discussion on the issue of content creation and platform liability in promoting health-related practices.

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Falling health and hospitalization

During his lifetime, Kultur's videos were mainly about eating a lot of fast food, candies, and calorie-rich substances. Although the videos garnered millions of views, they negatively impacted his health in the long run. Toward the end of 2024, he suffered from serious health issues that finally admitted him to the hospital.

Kultur was hospitalized for 3 months as doctors attempted to control his condition. Even with medical treatment, his health deteriorated, leading to his demise on March 7, 2025.

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Health hazards of mukbang videos

Mukbang videos have captured a lot of attention, as YouTubers acquire significant numbers of followers by devouring large quantities of food. Such videos might sound interesting to people in general, but experts indicate that they will encourage poor dietary practices. Physicians point out that binge consumption of high-calorie foods creates severe health problems in the long run.

After the case of Kultur, content producers have begun to include healthier options in their videos, with a focus on the size of the portions and being health-conscious. There remain controversies regarding how much social media sites are culpable for balancing entertainment and health messages.

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Social media regulations and government response

Following Kultur's death, Turkish authorities have proposed tighter controls on the use of social media by individuals under 16. These are meant to restrict access to content that would promote harmful behaviors, such as extreme food challenges.

Around the world, there is increasing worry regarding social media trends that entail dangerous behavior. Some such sites have already put limits on some forms of content, and Kultur's situation might push regulatory talks involving mukbang and such issues further.

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A health awareness debate and internet trends

The passing away of Efecan Kultur has revealed the probable impact on health brought by viral internet trends. With mukbang continuing to be on the trend, his case mirrors the need for the body to learn the eventual fate of binge eating.

While debate over the impact of this sort of content is ongoing, continuing to fashion itself, the case of Kultur could become the one to frame future discourse around responsible content creation. It raises the ultimate question of whether or not health and wellness are going to be swayed in the digital age by trends online.

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