Popular mukbang creator Chen Ziyi (Yingying) has passed away at 24. Learn about her final video, severe potassium warnings, and online health risks.
Popular Chinese mukbang creator Chen Ziyi, known online as Ganfan Yingying, passed away on August 17, 2026, at the age of 24. Her parents announced her death on September 4, confirming her passing just three days after she uploaded a final video warning her 1 million followers about the severe health risks of extreme eating. Known for high-volume food livestreams and product promotions, Chen's death has renewed intense global debate surrounding creator safety, platform pressure, and the physical dangers of mukbang content.
Key Information
- Creator Name: Chen Ziyi (Ganfan Yingying / 吃饭吧英英)
- Platform Reach: Over 1.2 Million Followers Across Chinese Short-Video Platforms
- Content Focus: High-Volume Mukbang Livestreams, Food Promotions, and E-Commerce Broadcasts
- Official Platforms: Accounts removed by Chinese short-video platforms on September 7, 2026
- Primary Genre: Digital Culture, Livestreaming, Food Content, Social Media News
- Date of Passing: August 17, 2026
What Did Chen Ziyi Reveal in Her Final Health Warning?
In her final video published on August 14, 2026, Chen detailed her recent hospitalization due to severe electrolyte depletion.
- Critically Low Potassium Levels: Chen shared medical test results showing her blood potassium levels had dropped as low as 2.3 mmol/L. A healthy human blood potassium range generally sits between 3.5 and 5.5 mmol/L.
- Repeated Health Issues: Chen acknowledged that this was not her first hospitalization, revealing that she had suffered recurring bouts of severe hypokalemia related to her food broadcast schedule.
- A Final Warning to Creators: Refusal to stop broadcasting despite poor health stemmed from platform pressures to maintain high viewer metrics during sales streams. In her final message, Chen urged her audience, "Although making money is important, health should always come first".
What Are the Medical Risks Associated with Extreme Mukbang Content?
Medical professionals have increasingly highlighted the physiological strain that extreme food content places on young digital creators.
- Dangerous Electrolyte Imbalances: While consuming massive amounts of food does not inherently drain potassium, habits associated with extreme mukbangs, such as induced purging or laxative use to manage weight, cause critical potassium loss.
- Heart Function and Hypokalemia: As noted by Dr. Chai Qichen of Zhejiang Hospital, severe potassium deficiency disrupts the electrical impulses of the heart, dramatically increasing the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest.
- Extreme Live Challenges: Reports from Chen's previous livestreams detailed extreme promotional challenges, such as consuming between 60 to 70 preserved eggs in a single broadcast.
What Is the Official Status of Her Cause of Death?
While speculation regarding her exact cause of death has circulated heavily online, official details remain strictly guarded by her family.
- Unconfirmed Cause of Death: Her family's formal obituary confirmed her passing on August 17 without listing a specific cause.
- Unverified Cardiac Arrest Reports: Secondary reports citing sources close to her medical care suggested she suffered cardiac arrest brought on by prolonged hypokalemia. However, medical authorities and her family have not officially verified these claims.
- Platform Removals: On September 7, Chinese short-video platforms officially removed Chen's channel pages and legacy content following public scrutiny over extreme food broadcasting standards.