There is a new viral weight-loss hack sweeping Chinese social media, and it’s a doozy. Young people are putting plastic wrap over their mouths to prevent any calories from making contact with their bodies. They then pretend to chew the food vigorously through the cling film, before taking the food out and throwing it away.
The premise of this bizarre trend is pretty straightforward. The plastic wrap acts as a sort of mouth condom that prevents you from ingesting any calories, while at the same time allowing you to trick your brain into thinking that it is going to receive nutrition. This allegedly helps you feel satiated without actually consuming any calories
However, critics of the trend point out that simply simulating eating does not provide the body with energy or nourishment and could even intensify cravings over time.
Experts warn that the new trend has all the signs of a major health crisis, as it promotes behavior that could lead to serious eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia, as itwires the brain to derive pleasure from food’s taste and texture without the calories.
Those engaging in this bizarre weight loss hack also risk ingesting large quantities of microplastics, as chewing against the plastic wrap is bound to release small bits of plastic that mix with the saliva and end up in the respiratory and digestive systems, causing all sorts of complications.
Although plastic wrap eating started out as a weird experiment, it quickly evolved into a full-fledged internet trend, racking up millions of views and sparking intense debates.
For more dangerous weight-loss trends, check out the fat-disolving injections being sold online as speedy weight loss treatments, or this experimental device that lets you lock your jaws together so you can’t chew anything.
