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

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 (