Efecan Kultur racked up millions of views across his social media accounts but was left bedridden for months due to his serious weight issues that had negative impacts on his health
A 24-year-old TikTok star who shot to fame for his extreme eating challenge has died from obesity, according to reports.
Efecan Kultur who became known for his mukbang videos where he would gorge on monster amounts of food died on March 7. He suffered from weight-related health issues and spent three months in hospital.
Despite having millions of views across his videos, Mr Kultur put an end to his streaming career, as his health issues left him bed bound. According to Turkish outlet Turkiye Today, he suffered from breathing and bruising difficulties.
He uploaded his last video to TikTok eight months ago and his last mukbang video was shared on October 15. In the video, Mr Kultur said he would forego extra salt as he was on a diet.
His last video showed him stuffing himself on a large plate of tinned grape leaves. But in the months following his last video, he ended up undergoing medical treatment for his obesity.
Testo Taylan, a popular streamer in Turkey, had an extended conversation with Mr Kultur last month. During the conversation, Mr Kultur was laid shirtless in his bed with his eyes shut due to the weight on his face.
The Turkish Government has taken to warning young people about the dangers posed by mukbang videos following Mr Kultur’s death, according to the Turkish outlet. Government officials are aiming to introduce legislation that would limit the amount of time children aged under 16 would have to spend on social media each day.
According to the US National Library of Medicine, Turkey currently has the highest obesity prevalence when compared to European counterparts. Between 32 per cent and 61 per cent are considered obese or overweight, respectively. In comparison, 28 per cent of UK adults were classed as obese and 36 per cent were overweight in 2022.
The NHS says there are significant health risks of being obese which include the following:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Types of cancer such as breast and bowel cancers
- Strokes