Bizarre weight loss trend sees people 'eating plastic' in China

Warning: This article contains discussion of eating disorders which some readers may find distressing.

Another potentially dangerous social media trend is doing the rounds online, but at a time when people continue to be obsessed with their appearance, we're here to tell you that attempting to lose weight like this isn’t the right way.

In the aftermath of an 11-year-old boy apparently dying from the dangerous 'chroming' trend, we're reminded that others like the Milk Crate Challenge (standing on a precarious stack of milk crates), Blackout Challenge, Bird Box Challenge (doing dangerous things while blindfolded), and Kool-Aid Man Challenge (running through closed fences) have also led to serious injury or even death.

While some like the Momo Challenge have become the stuff of urban legend and conspiracy theories, another is now taking off despite skeptics saying no one would actually be foolish enough to try it.

As shared by Dexerto, the latest online trend everyone is advising against involves people placing cling film over their mouths and then filling the pocket with food. You’re then supposed to chew several times, and then expel the contents in a little parcel.

It's believed that this follows on from the notion that chewing gum can trick your body into releasing saliva, digestive enzymes, and gastric acids as a form of 'sham feeding'. However, it's not considered a sustainable method for weight loss, and there are some obvious concerns.

While we understand there's been a rise in so-called skinny jabs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, the fact that this trend could promote unhealthy eating habits and the idea that people would want to fool their bodies into thinking they're consuming food is an issue.

If that wasn't enough, in an era when we're supposed to be worried about how many microplastics we're pumping into our bodies without knowing it, chewing on cling film is hardly a healthy snack.

Finally, there's a potential choking hazard that echoes the return of the Condom Challenge, where people put themselves in danger of asphyxiation by snorting prophylactics.

Responding to a viral post, one critic wrote: "Millions upon millions of microplastics floating around in their blood from doing this crazy sh*t."

Another added: "If eating, drinking and using plastic for almost everything wasn't enough, use this technique to maximize your microplastic intake today!"

A third said: "No need for food when you're all filled up on microplastics."

Mainly, many people are claiming that trends like this are in danger of glamorizing eating disorders.

While it appears there are multiple clips of people trying the trend, it remains unclear whether they're ‘jokes’ for social media clout or whether the OPs actually believe in the methodology.

Either way, we can't reiterate enough that this is one thing you should not be trying at home.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone, contact National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). You can reach them on their free hotline at 1(888)-375-7767, which is open Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm CST.