24-year-old extreme eater dies during livestream of food binge challenge

A content creator - known for her 'extreme eating' challenges - has died whilst live streaming.

Social media star Pan Xiaoting was just 24-years-old when she passed away earlier this month (14 July), whilst part-taking in one of her routine streams.

The Chinese internet sensation has accumulated hundreds of thousands of followers since taking to popular video-sharing apps, like TikTok and YouTube, to promote her unique content.

The internet star's autopsy showed she died of overeating. (Jam Press)

Part of her online channels are dedicated to producing 'mukbang' content - which sees users consuming various quantities of audibly-satisfying food while interacting with the audience.

What made her accounts so unique to followers with this controversial culinary 'fetish', however, was the quantity of the food Xiaoting was consuming, as well as the unhealthy nature of the items.

Some of her most popular content saw the online favourite taking on challenges which would see her devouring enormous quantities of food, sometimes making her way through more than 10kg of food per meal.

And according to local media, the much-loved streamer also took part in a mission which saw her attempting to consume food ceaselessly, without break, for up to 10 hours per day.

The 'mukbang' online trend has led to a ban across China. (Jam Press)

Xiaoting had previously been hospitalised for her food consumption antics, after overeating for viewers led her to endure gastric bleeding.

She was later discharged from hospital with a severe health warning from doctors, however.

Sadly, the online star refused to change her popular content, and during a livestream earlier this month, passed away during a livestream.

As reported by the Maeil Business Newspaper, a subsequent autopsy determined that the internet favourite's stomach was filled with undigested food at the time of her death.

Her abdomen was also found to be severely deformed.

The content creator took part in challenges which saw her consuming 10kg of food per meal. (Jam Press)

The heartbreaking news comes just four years after China implemented a ban on 'mukbang' videos in an attempt to tackle overeating and obesity, as well as food waste across the nation.

The country's leader Xi Jinping previously described the amount of purchased food being abandoned in China as 'shameful', and opted to introduce a policy which would see food service operators inducing or misleading customers to 'order excessive meals and cause obvious waste' a penalty.

Those found guilty of the 2020 crime could subsequently face fines of up to 10,000 yuan (£1,066.73).

Speaking to the Daily Mail since Xiaoting's death, Dr Andrew Harris - a senior lecturer of psychology at Nottingham Trent University - explained the risk of promoting 'mukbang' content.

"Mukbang videos centre around consumption and indulgence, potentially reinforcing a cycle of overeating or unhealthy food relationships," he said.