Chinese internet users find new way to lose weight fast
- Online entrepreneurs offer second-hand taste of favourite food and drink for a small fee
- Trend spawns lighthearted spin-offs and mockery
You’ve heard of personal shopping, but now some savvy Chinese internet users are offering to drink bubble tea and eat fried chicken on behalf of health-conscious but food-loving customers.
Sellers film themselves eating or drinking the unhealthy foods and beverages and send the videos to buyers for the cost of the food bought, plus a 2 to 10 yuan (30 US cents to US$1.50) “service fee”.
In the videos, sellers describe the taste of the food and the sensation of eating it to give the buyer a second-hand dining experience without the calories, Beijing Evening News reported.
“I will honestly eat and drink on your behalf! I will help you eat whatever you want! Don’t worry about getting fat, diabetes, high cholesterol, high pressure – I will take all the risks for you!” promised one listing circulating on social media.
“If you order, I will eat it. I can take a video and guarantee it will be like you’re right beside me, otherwise I will eat the same thing again!”
Another seller listed hotpot, McDonald’s, KFC, Western food, desserts, barbecued meat, Sichuan food and Cantonese food as examples of things they would eat for a fee.