In recent weeks, a peculiar trend known as 'plastic eating' or 'cling wrap diet' has surfaced among young people in China, alarming health professionals around the globe. This fad involves individuals placing plastic wrap over their mouths, eating food, and then spitting it out, ostensibly to trick the brain into feeling full without actually consuming calories. Videos showcasing this unsettling practice have gone viral on platforms such as TikTok and Douyin, accumulating millions of views.

Advocates of this trend argue that it helps to control cravings and manage weight, claiming that it provides a sense of fullness while avoiding caloric intake. However, scientists and health experts are warning against the dangers of this practice, stressing that it is not only ineffective but can also pose serious health risks. The attention brought to this trend by social media channels, such as 'China Pulse', highlights the rapid spread among youth, underscoring the need for education on healthy eating habits.

Research published by the National Institutes of Health indicates potential adverse effects on physical health and mental well-being linked to such extreme dieting methods. As this bizarre eating habit gains momentum, it leaves many worried about the pervasive influence of social media on dietary practices, particularly among impressionable young audiences, calling for urgent intervention and awareness to counteract harmful fads.