This method, which started as a viral trend in China, has caused great concern among nutritionists. This trend, called the “plastic eating diet”, offers a very attractive promise in theory: losing weight without eating any calories.
But the method is both strange and dangerous. The practice consists of wrapping food in cling film, chewing it, and then spitting it out without swallowing. Thus, the person thinks that he is experiencing the “sensory pleasure” of eating.
Behind this practice, which is rapidly spreading on social media, there are serious dangers such as the risk of suffocation, intestinal blockage, ingestion of microplastics and triggering eating disorders.
Andrea Calderón, Director of the Master’s Program in Nutrition, Body Composition and Metabolism at the European University, clearly criticizes this method:
“This is not a nutritional strategy, it is risky behavior.”
Chewing but not swallowing won’t trick the body into feeling full, according to Calderón. Because the feeling of fullness does not depend only on the chewing action. Food must reach the digestive system in order for the body’s appetite-regulating mechanisms to activate.
In this process, hormones such as leptin, ghrelin and GLP-1 come into play and send messages to the central nervous system that regulate hunger signals. When food is spit out and not digested, these mechanisms do not come into play at all. At most, a short-term feeling of fullness may occur; however, no true metabolic response occurs.
The hidden danger of stretch film
Beyond the fact that this method does not work for weight control, it also has concrete and serious health risks. If plastic is accidentally swallowed while chewing, it can block the airways and cause suffocation or escape into the respiratory tract.
If plastic reaches the digestive tract, consequences can range from stomach upset to intestinal obstruction and require immediate medical attention.
Additionally, if plastic breaks down during chewing, another danger arises: microplastics. The entry of these small particles into the body is associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory reactions and metabolic disorders.
Behavior associated with eating disorders
From a clinical perspective, this trend is not entirely new. It is similar to the “chewing and spitting” behavior seen in people with anorexia or bulimia. These people want to taste the food but avoid taking in calories.
Over time, such behaviors can disrupt the normal perception of hunger and reinforce an unhealthy relationship with food based on fear of gaining weight.
The normalization of such practices, especially among young people, is dangerous, says Calderón:
“Normalizing such behavior can be a warning sign and predispose to the development of eating disorders.”
Turning food into an enemy
Experts also say this trend points to a broader problem with the way food culture is viewed today.
“Nutrition is not just about getting food; it also includes food selection, planning, preparation, social environment, and the joy of eating,” says Calderón.
In this trend, food becomes something to be avoided or only imitated.
This type of “diet” provides no energy or nutrients to the body and can lead to serious nutritional deficiencies if followed for a long time.
According to experts, the way to lose weight when necessary is through scientifically based methods:
A balanced and varied diet, a personalized diet plan and regular physical activity.
Calderón concludes his words as follows:
“Health is built not through viral shortcuts, but through nutrition education and a healthy relationship with food.”
This message serves as an important warning against baseless trends that are rapidly spreading on social media.
