Food-Related Online Media Viewing (Mukbang and Cookbang) and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage and Artificially Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Korean Adolescents: Using the 2025 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey
- 1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
- 2BK21 FOUR Program, Precision Nutrition Program for Future Global Leaders, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
- 3Kimchi Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adolescents are increasingly exposed to food-related online media, with mukbang and cookbang representing prominent forms of such media. Mukbang refers to an online genre in which hosts consume food while interacting with viewers, whereas cookbang refers to an online genre in which hosts prepare and often consume food. In this study, these genres are termed as food-related online media. Adolescents who frequently view food-related online media have been reported to consume more energy-dense foods, with differences by sex and age. However, little is known about their association with beverage consumption. This study examined the associations between food-related online media viewing and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) among adolescents and whether these associations differed by sex and school level. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2025 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 27,104; Mage = 14.98 ± 1.78 years; 40.9% girls; 50.7% middle school students). Food-related online media viewing and SSB and ASB consumption frequencies were self-reported. Multinomial logistic regression models examined associations of food-related online media viewing with SSB and ASB consumption, stratified by sex and school level. Results: Frequent viewing of such media (≥5 times/week) was associated with greater odds of SSB consumption ≥ 7 times/week than infrequent food-related online media viewing (<once/month). The association was stronger among boys (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.39–2.31) than girls (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.14–1.65) and among middle school students (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.66–2.57) than high school students (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.05–1.56). Associations with ASB consumption were generally stronger among boys than girls and varied across consumption frequencies and school levels. Conclusions: Frequent viewing of food-related online media was associated with adolescent’s SSB and ASB consumption, although it differed by sex and school level. These findings underscore the importance of considering differences across adolescent subgroups when developing strategies to reduce SSB and ASB consumption.
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BibTeX
@article{lee2026foodrelated,
title = {{Food-Related Online Media Viewing (Mukbang and Cookbang) and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage and Artificially Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Korean Adolescents: Using the 2025 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey}},
author = {Soo Jin Lee and Seol Hwa Park and Cynthia Y. Yoon},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18203402},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/20/3402},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Food-Related Online Media Viewing (Mukbang and Cookbang) and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage and Artificially Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Korean Adolescents: Using the 2025 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey
AU - Soo Jin Lee
AU - Seol Hwa Park
AU - Cynthia Y. Yoon
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18203402
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/20/3402
AB - Background/Objectives: Adolescents are increasingly exposed to food-related online media, with mukbang and cookbang representing prominent forms of such media. Mukbang refers to an online genre in which hosts consume food while interacting with viewers, whereas cookbang refers to an online genre in which hosts prepare and often consume food. In this study, these genres are termed as food-related online media. Adolescents who frequently view food-related online media have been reported to consume more energy-dense foods, with differences by sex and age. However, little is known about their association with beverage consumption. This study examined the associations between food-related online media viewing and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) among adolescents and whether these associations differed by sex and school level. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2025 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 27,104; Mage = 14.98 ± 1.78 years; 40.9% girls; 50.7% middle school students). Food-related online media viewing and SSB and ASB consumption frequencies were self-reported. Multinomial logistic regression models examined associations of food-related online media viewing with SSB and ASB consumption, stratified by sex and school level. Results: Frequent viewing of such media (≥5 times/week) was associated with greater odds of SSB consumption ≥ 7 times/week than infrequent food-related online media viewing (<once/month). The association was stronger among boys (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.39–2.31) than girls (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.14–1.65) and among middle school students (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.66–2.57) than high school students (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.05–1.56). Associations with ASB consumption were generally stronger among boys than girls and varied across consumption frequencies and school levels. Conclusions: Frequent viewing of food-related online media was associated with adolescent’s SSB and ASB consumption, although it differed by sex and school level. These findings underscore the importance of considering differences across adolescent subgroups when developing strategies to reduce SSB and ASB consumption.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -