A video promoting the so-called “butter health method.” (Image captured from YouTube.)
SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Unverified health claims promoting butter as a cure-all—from cancer remission to weight control and even children’s brain development—are spreading rapidly across social media in South Korea, prompting warnings from medical and nutrition experts about potential health risks.
Videos circulating on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok urge viewers to eat butter on an empty stomach or pair it with specific foods, often presenting the practice as a shortcut to better health.
Some posts go further, asserting that daily butter consumption can eliminate cancer or replace prescription obesity drugs. Several of the videos include links to group purchases of specific butter products, blurring the line between personal testimony and commercial promotion.
Experts say the claims are not supported by scientific evidence. Kang Jae-heon, a family medicine specialist at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, described the so-called “butter diet” as “completely unverified,” cautioning that focusing on a single food ignores the importance of overall dietary balance.
While butter contains no carbohydrates and may not immediately raise blood sugar, he said, its high calorie and saturated fat content can contribute to weight gain and nutritional imbalances when consumed regularly.
A video claiming that children should be given butter. (Captured from TikTok.)
The trend has also reached children, with viral videos showing toddlers eating chunks of butter accompanied by captions claiming benefits for gut health and brain development. Pediatricians and nutritionists warn that such practices may be especially harmful, potentially displacing essential nutrients needed for healthy growth.
Reports of adverse effects are already emerging. One office worker said her cholesterol levels spiked after following an empty-stomach butter regimen for several weeks. A parent who fed butter to her young child after watching online videos said the child developed diarrhea and abdominal pain, requiring a visit to the hospital.
Yi Yu-hyun, a professor of food and nutrition at the University of Suwon, said repeated butter consumption could raise LDL cholesterol levels and worsen metabolic conditions in some people. Claims that butter prevents cancer or enhances children’s cognitive development, she added, have no scientific backing.
Health professionals are urging consumers to be skeptical of viral diet trends and to seek guidance based on established medical evidence. As misinformation continues to spread through social media, they warn that the costs may be borne not just in wasted money, but in real and lasting health consequences.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
