Diet Followed by Kpop Idols
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r/unpopularkpopopinions • 1r/kpoprants • 2r/kpop_uncensored • 37 moreTLDR
Summary
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What Redditors are SayingThe Diets of K-Pop Idols
Extreme Dieting Practices
K-pop idols often follow extreme dieting practices, which can be harmful to their health. Many idols are pressured to maintain very low body weights, sometimes through crash diets that involve eating very little food [1:3], [2:3]. These diets can lead to physical and mental health issues, including disruptions in menstrual cycles for female idols [2:3] and the development of disordered eating behaviors [5:2]. Despite the physical demands of their performances, idols are often expected to adhere to these restrictive diets to fit into stage outfits and meet industry standards [5:3].
Industry Pressure and Beauty Standards
The pressure to conform to beauty standards is a significant factor influencing idol diets. In East Asia, thin bodies are often idealized, and this cultural preference extends to the K-pop industry [2:9]. Idols face immense pressure to maintain a slim appearance, as deviations from this standard can result in public criticism [5:6]. This pressure is compounded by the industry's focus on looks over health, with companies prioritizing appearances over the well-being of their idols [2:1].
Impact on Health and Performance
The extreme dieting practices have several negative impacts on idols' health and performance. A lack of proper nutrition can lead to exhaustion, injuries, and burnout [5]. Idols may rely on caffeine and other stimulants to maintain energy levels during demanding schedules [4:1], [4:3]. While young idols may temporarily adapt to these conditions, the long-term effects can include serious health issues such as decreased bone density and heart problems [4:9].
Public Perception and Responsibility
There is ongoing debate about the responsibility of idols and the industry in promoting healthy body images. Some argue that idols should not broadcast their restrictive diets, as this can influence young fans to adopt unhealthy eating habits [3:2]. However, others point out that idols themselves are victims of the industry's standards and should not be blamed for the systemic issues [3:4]. Ultimately, addressing these challenges requires a shift in industry practices and societal attitudes towards beauty and health [5:12].
Recommendations for Change
To improve the situation, some suggest treating idols like high-performance athletes by providing balanced diets and stable weight management [5:1]. Hiring nutritionists and dedicated trainers could help ensure that idols receive the necessary nutrients to support their rigorous schedules [2:2]. Additionally, focusing on physical fitness and stamina rather than maintaining a specific weight could promote healthier lifestyles within the industry [5:10].
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POST SUMMARY • [1]Summarize
idol’s diets
Posted by billie3dgelord · in r/unpopularkpopopinions · 6 years ago
ORIGINAL POSTi’m not sure if this has been discussed that much, but i’ve noticed that kpop idols tend to eat really badly..i’m not an expert but i’m pretty sure that after long times of exercise you should have plenty of protein and fluids to make up for the lost energy. all i see instead are just idols eating food high in sodium and low in nutrition...i was just wondering if anyone else noticed ?
I think many idols eat those junk food when on shows /directed by the company for variety and entertainment purposes (then they dance or work out intensely off screen to balance out the consumed calories). If they have an amazing body, it really likely means they are restricting their diet (can be in a good or bad way depending on their lifestyle) off screen. You just don’t get a beautiful ab/toned body eating ramen, snacks, fried salty food and drinking pops everyday(or frequently). Korean snacks and restaurant meals are so yummy, don’t get me wrong, but the macronutrients listed in the nutrition table are really terrifying (salt, sugar, fats and artificial components)
I get the sense that, during promotions, they eat next to nothing. My guess is that if you see them eating anything during active promotions, especially if it's for a variety or mukbang, that's the only food they've eaten that day.
I would love to be wrong about this. There are probably companies that manage their idols' nutrition pretty well, but I kind of assume they don't care what you eat as long as you stay skinny.
i notice this too.
what kinda bothers me when fans take idols eating junk food as them somehow being "healthy". i know we've all seen the horror stories of idols limiting themselves in order to abide to crazy diets, but that doesn't mean high fat and sodium is the answer either. for as active as they are, high fats and sodium products can't be giving them the sufficient nutrients they need
with that being said, we don't know how idols really eat off screen, and we only get part of the picture. idol diets are something i try not to comment too much on.
yeah it’s something i try not to talk about because it’s in no way my business.i try to mind my own business but i was just wondering if anyone else noticed but i just got downvoted instead :/
It's just TV. The main reason they get excited on these shows for food is because it is the only time they get to break their diet. What they eat as part of that diet may be troublesome but what you see them eat is probably the one time they've eaten Ramen and rice porridge in months.
the companies force them to go on diets, female idols need to be 50kg or below, especially with trainees. managers tell them what to eat etc. not all companies are like this, but most of them are
r/kpoprants • [2]Summarize
I will never understand why K-Pop companies put idols and trainees on extreme diets
Posted by nctzenhours · in r/kpoprants · 4 years ago(hope the flair is OK, if not let me know)
CW: extreme dieting
Not only are extreme diets extremely ineffective and often lead to yo-yoing, they‘re also very harmful to your health as well. (Not that idols generally need to lose any weight anyway, they’re all already very slim). Being an idol (trainee) is a very physically demanding job, and to be able to train to the best of their abilities and put on good performances, they obviously need lots of energy. If anything, they could get away with eating much more than regular people without putting on lots of weight due to their extremely active lifestyle - they probably burn all of it off anyways.
In that regard, idols should be treated more like athletes - companies need to hire nutritionists for them who compose a meal plan for the idols specifically catered to their needs so that they can stay as healthy as possible.
Sadly, the extreme dieting is most likely a result of very high standards for the idols, as there‘s plenty of pressure to stay skinny - both from the public and the industry in general. So unless that changes, looks like extreme dieting in Kpop isn’t going away anytime soon.
Edit: added CW in text
Agree w u about hiring nutritionists & dedicated trainers, especially for their trainees who are most of the time minors. These extremely unhealthy dieting behaviors can impact them a lot worse than in like an adult; it can really mess w ur metabolism & like their physical growth (bone density & u know health numbers) that have long term consequences well into their adulthood. Not to mention just developing those bad habits which often carry on into the rest of their life as well.
I frankly find it kind of disgusting that this is how even the biggest most lucrative companies operate (like SM entertainment). They kind of just tell trainees (minors lol) that hey u have to lose X amount of weight before ur next assessment or u’ll be cut. And then the kids - bc they don’t have any professional help at all & there’s normally no need to lose weight when u r still growing, it’s normal for ur weight to fluctuate as u go through ur adolescence - all these kids know how to do is just to starve themselves to meet that checkpoint.
It’s like not only do u set really stupid harmful standards, u don’t even provide ANY professional guidance for them. Like Yangyang (WayV) recently talked about how he ate like 1 cup of coffee, 1 apple & 1 serving of chicken salad per day for 2 weeks straight to lose about 15lbs - to meet the SM mandated weight requirement as a trainee. It’s just like, really? It’s a miracle that he didn’t develop some sort of disordered eating from that experience. Also like if even Yangyang had to lose weight, I can’t imagine what it was like for everyone else.
But it’s also kind of not surprising bc even in professional sports, u hear about coaches and supposedly professional nutritionist / sports doctors making young female athletes lose so much weight that they lose their periods - bc that was their strategy for helping her become a faster runner. Like instead of focusing on all the other aspects, they focused solely on her weight. I watched a documentary about this 1 woman that was working w this coach sponsored by Nike (I believe) and this was her experience. She got so sick that she had to leave the sport.
So it’s like - alright I get there’s a certain level of “body maintenance” that’s expected and maybe required of athletes and performers to a certain degree, but it’s like - no one should be putting their life and wellbeing in danger for what ... fame and success? And like for idols - it’s even more upsetting bc it’s like they r risking their health to make money for these company executives and share holders. Like - just putting more money into the pockets of ppl that are already wealthy and powerful (and not starving themselves).
So I feel like us as fans / as consumers also have to really realize that this thing that we are consuming is literally putting young kids’ health and lives in danger - all to just entertain us. Like is it really worth all this? Like is this level of performance this level of “attractiveness” REALLY worth ppl’s lives? Like - I personally would be fine w a lower level of “appeal” - give us sorta normal average looking nice ppl singing and dancing to the best of their abilities - and I’d still enjoy it. But it’s like - will Kpop fans in general be ok with that? With changing the standards of Kpop itself, potentially making it less globally competitive or lucrative or “successful” - potentially giving us less content, less perfect looking people, doing less picture-perfect performances 100% of the time. Like - would ppl have the sense to say: yea, I’m ok with this if this means ppl aren’t starving themselves and working themselves to the ground? Like consumers have to also take some responsibility bc it’s like companies can do things like this bc it works in their favor, it makes these ppl more marketable & they make more money as a result. So it’s like ... we are sustaining that market for kids to starve themselves to sell themselves to us. That’s just the ugly truth that most of us (me included) don’t want to think about too much when watching our favs laugh and really loving what they do. It’s like ... what did they go through to get here. And what have we allowed to happen to them just to meet our “expectations” for what an idol group “has to” look like to be successful / marketable?
And for female idols, that kind of stuff can really mess with your periods as well. Someone from Ladies' Code (Ashley Choi) talked about how she didn’t have her period for a year because of extreme dieting - and you know something is wrong with your body when your menstruation starts getting messy.
I do understand that being slim helps with sports because it’s easier if you carry less weight around, but to this extent? Seriously? That’s messed up. Training stamina has left the chat.
And lastly, as you mentioned theres also this dilemma about whether it’s ethical to consume Kpop content in the first place considering all the messed up stuff that comes with it. You may argue that there is no such thing as ethical consumption, sure, but somewhere limits do have to be drawn.
I suggest watching the variety show "Point of Omniscient Interfere" about celebrities daily life and their managers. They don't move as much, be in cars a lot sitting down for hours, not as active as you think. So during busy time where they cant go gym they have to diet.
Wakeup -> car -> go to hair makeup salon -> car -> broadcasting company -> walk a bit then take elevator -> stay inside waiting room. Then the manager is like the helper. If they want snacks or water or food then manager buys it.
Also camera does add some pounds to your body and face. Slight changes are very noticeable. Even to us normal people. Not just celebrity
Also in majority Asian countries being skinny is the beautys standard. I would suggest the same too in the West actually, my tiktok fyp is still full of skinny girls. Its still very desireable body type though we see kardashains body like also trendy.
Sure they spend lots of time in cars, but they also practice the choreography (often for hours) and perform a lot, especially during promotions. That’s a lot more exercise than the average person is doing. Plus, are managers not often also responsible to make sure they follow their diets? I‘d assume that’s a different type of manager tho, e.g. a road manager would most likely than not have nothing to do with this
The camera part is definitely true tho. To look skinny on camera you got to be already very skinny irl
This is why the show will open new perspectives. Managers in korea is different then say people like scooter brown. They drive for you, take your calls for schedules, buy you food, wake you up, remind you of time, kinda like personal assistant. I remember taeyeon or someone said shes happy she finally can book her own flight ticket or somethin bcz shes used to her manager or other people doing simple tasks for her.
Idols are chosen then other trainees because of how fast they can soak and memorize new choreography. I know idols that only practice a week or a couple days before mv shooting.
Not to mention the big drinking culture in korea and those calories from drinking alone. Yeah the camera is hard, epsecially they shot from one camera angle in variety show whereas we normal people can shot from different angles to try and make we look slimmer or curvier. Iykyk
In the West, the beauty standard has switched to more curvy / "thick" than very skinny but very thin bodies, often to the point of being underweight, still remain ideal in East Asia. It seems to be a cultural thing too, it is much more acceptable to randomly bring up someone‘s weight (even in a not very nice way) in East Asia than in the West
Eh, it's also just differences in body frames. To you they may be "very thin, often to the point of being underweight", but that's just the standard over there. Of course I'm just talking about the general population.
I've lived in Korea there are A LOT of women who had similar builds to kpop idols but they were perfectly fine and healthy. Hell, my sister is as skinny too and she's fine. I myself am a male but my whole life I was super skinny and got teased about it growing up here in the US.
Obviously there's pressure to look good and that leads to the whole skinny = good in modern human society, but you shouldn't make these judgments by juxtaposing an East Asian country with the West when the ethnic groups are physically different.
But kpop is in Korea plus the “curves” are desired with thin bodies like something like dua lipa or hwasa like skinny but in a curvy way.
skinny bodies are still 100% the beauty standard in the west
Not just general society but also in the dance world.
Thinner bodies are preferred as they’re believed to be able to show movement better.
Since Kpop relies so heavily on choreography thinner bodies are to be expected/demanded for praise.
Not to mention most Kpop idols debut while they’re young and still growing. Fans are used to seeing them at a smaller frame at debut so companies will try the most to keep the idols looking the same.
That’s true. Reminds me of how JYP (the man) criticized a girl‘s weight and how it impacted her dance style on the NiziU survival show
Kpop is heavily based on looks. It’s the same reason idols fry their hair with perms and bleach — because it’s about how it looks vs health.
r/kpop_uncensored • [3]Summarize
Kpop idols broadcasting their extremely restrictive diets to their young and impressionable fans absolutely should be criticised
Posted by Due_Improvement_5699 · in r/kpop_uncensored · 3 months ago[deleted]
I agree. EDs can be extremely damaging to a person's health. In the same way idols don't go around promoting smoking, they shouldn't lay out their restrictive diets as if it's normal. And yes, some kids are absolutely going to use those diets as a blueprint for their own eating habits.
One of the things I dislike about this industry is idols having go through extreme diets. No eating for a week? Eating a salad once a day? All of this is absurd in my eyes, they should just be able to eat and drink whatever they want.
It sure is unhealthy and could be damaging their body on the long run, (they also look better healthy ofc) but if they decide to eat more and be healthy they should do it for themselves not for fans. It’s not their job nor responsibility
I see it both ways however kpop idols are also victims of the industry that pushes these standards on to them. It's sad all around
I think it's a double-edged sword. Are there Idols who 'promote' their diets? Sure, probably. But I think the media is at least 80% of the problem. I remember when the "Jimin diet" was super popular, and during the interview, he said not to do it and it wasn't healthy, but people/fans turned it into a trend. Then you hear the stories about how Chan was giving food to the female artist because the company had them on a 'diet.'
EDs should not be promoted, I agree. Also, if it is taking hospitalization for parents to notice that their child is literally starving...they're not paying enough attention to their children imo.
There are several problems with this take.
If idols pretended that they eat far more than they do and look that skinny, then that’s going to equally be problematic.
Idols are Korean and Koreans talk constantly about eating and food and diets. It’s impossible for them not to ask idols about diets and food. If the idols don’t answer they are going to be accused of gatekeeping and lying to fans.
More importantly why are we blaming idols and not the industry?
I don't get why adults should not take accountability for their actions. Most idols are adults or are old enough to understand how influential they are.
a lot of things people have issues with are a mere "its a korean thing" and ppl dont understand that its frustrating
r/kpopthoughts • [4]Summarize
How do idols manage to perform such energetic choreographies while being on strict diets and getting little sleep?
Posted by Wooyoungsmole · in r/kpopthoughts · 14 days ago[removed]
I’ma keep it a buck. Being young is king. Back in my teens and early 20s, I felt damn near invincible. I could pull an all nighter, crash for a quick nap, and still hit the gym in the afternoon without feeling the slightest bit groggy.
Most idols debut in their teens and they are relatively fit with all the practice hours they went through during their trainee days. I’m sure they have way more energy and stamina than an average joe in their late 20s and 30s.
I semi agree. I was eating and sleeping terribly throughout those years and was functional, but tbf I was a college student who had to simply show up to class or my internship. Idols have a much more hectic schedule than me.
It varies from person to person, of course, but humans are incredibly good at adapting to new settings and environments over time. Idol schedules might look impossibly demanding to us, but their bodies have likely adjusted to that lifestyle in a way that lets them function at a level most of us couldn’t sustain.
I know what you mean. When I was in my early twenties I used to work a 10 hour shift in a restaurant, finish at 11, go to the local nightclub until 3 & then go to work the next day at 12. It would kill me now but back then I didn't think anything of it.
Yep, and a lot of the severe side effects likely won't show up in a big way until mid 30's or so - wrecked joints, bone density, heart health, stuff like that.
There's a reason why the iced americano is one of the most popular drinks among idols lmao
I mean sometimes they can’t. Frankly I think that’s at least part of why I’ve seen some groups or idols get accused of being “lazy performers”. Especially as they’re getting older but they’ve been tasked with being on the road for months while performing multiple times a week on tour.
As others have said already some companies freely give their idols lots of coffee/caffeine/etc. to keep them busy. Same with yup, IV drips at the hospital/anywhere.
How they perform the choreos at a high level while under lots of stress and little sleep (especially when jetlagged or traveling around the world) basically has to do with what's called performance-enhancing D R U G S (PEDs, a la Olympics, or any top-level sport/activity/etc.). Or "health supplements" if you want to do some high-context culture/implicit communication/indirect expressions/etc. stuff about the terminology.
And in idol survival shows or documentaries they will also directly show you that oftentimes if the idol is having troubles with their back, waist, or anything, they can and will get injections/booster shots/etc. on the spot before their concerts or major performances and so forth.
In savage idol survival shows like Starlight Boys, you will see them breathe through oxygen masks/tanks and so forth, lol, can't believe that show had so much potential with POLARIX but ya, they weren't even allowed to properly debut despite going through all that (nonstop dancing, some people nearly passed out).
Stimulants are also prescribed by doctors to some idols/people/et cetera, and it gets passed around (id est people who don't medically need it are sold/given/etc. these medicinal/chemical/etc. stuff). And yes, I know about BoA and 2NE1 Bom's smuggling situations with their prescriptions and so on.
So what this means is that some of them get Vyvanse (the generic versions have been out since like 2023 or so) for the somewhat long-lasting effect. Other times, they get legal speed (this is why pop that Addy/etc. is such a common phrase in music), so no XR or extended release versions, just straight focus/etc. for that precise dancing stuff.
That's why you'll see some idols be jittery/etc. on the stage sometimes since they took too much or need to visit the StopSpeeding subreddit. Anyway, the companies know this and sometimes even encourage it as part of the career, like they have dedicated fixers/suppliers/etc. if some of them are not able to get those PEDs legally prescribed.
So that's why it seems humanly impossible to perform like that for weeks on end (especially during their debut or promotions, it's like over a whole month of nonstop events, though ya thankfully after a while they only promote for like 1 or 2 weeks instead), because it is, lol, as they get the help of Big Pharma/etc. to keep things churning for the fans/businesses/etc.
Idols also eat quite a lot despite the deficits, but it's hard to explain, just read my comments below as I point out some stuff in detail.
But ya long story short, the idols practice nonstop and so inevitably they eat snacks every now and then, like calorie-dense food or drinks, and so this helps maintain their energy/performance/etc.
Some more info written about it before, somewhere in the nested comments here, about star quality, behind the scenes commentary, and more info about how visuals affect everything in life: MNLYYZYEG/comments/1k2wkcz/extended_comments_with_walls_of_text_4/n5xq2pb/
Or here, let me find a direct link for you, there you go.
More info about One Meal A Day and intermittent fasting, and also supplements, with idol diet, stamina, et cetera: MNLYYZYEG/comments/1k2wkcz/extended_comments_with_walls_of_text_4/mt2f6v5/
Centralized comment about the renewed Hallyu Wave or global Kpop groups: MNLYYZYEG/comments/1k2wkcz/extended_comments_with_walls_of_text_4/n9ibtz6/?context=3
Thank you for the honest take. This is very informative.
caffeine and iv drips
r/kpop_uncensored • [5]Summarize
The unspoken common denominator of all these idols’ struggles is extreme dieting
Posted by [deleted] · in r/kpop_uncensored · 1 month ago
The idol industry is rampant with mental health issues, constant injuries, exhaustion, and burn out - and we don’t talk enough about how all of this relates to the extreme diets they’re pressured into.
It’s blatantly dangerous and reckless to be pushing people to these physical extremes while they are deprived of proper nutrition and food. A lot of these idols are very young and have teenage metabolisms, but you cannot maintain the physiques they have without a severe calorie deficit.
What do severe calorie deficits do over time? They cause both physical and mental health issues. Nutrient deficiencies, muscle loss, hormonal imbalances, decreased bone density, etc. And we see this with all these idol groups. And the craziest part is, misogynistic media constantly blames the women in this industry for the symptoms of their diets.
If a woman cries while talking about the struggles of her daily routine, she’s being too sensitive and ungrateful. No one considers that being constantly hungry and underweight is going to make every physical activity more exhausting, and your emotional responses much stronger.
If a woman cannot keep up with vigorous choreography during a concert, she’s lazy and out of shape. Once again, no one considers how the body image expectations imposed on touring idols might impact their fitness.
If a woman has a major injury or health problem, it’s met with skepticism.
Taylor Swift, for example, had to gain weight and put on muscle for her eras tour in order to get through it. You need muscle mass to keep up with these routines. Actual muscle mass - not just abdominal muscles that are particularly pronounced because of a lack of body fat.
Bodies are all different, and surely, there are idols who are naturally on the thinner side and able to live healthy lives at a very thin weight. But as a general rule? It’s genuinely insane to expect these types of bodies from people with their daily lives and schedules.
The dieting is particularly insidious because it’s also a means of control. Malnourished young people are easier to control and exploit. This is just a fact.
The dieting truly is the common denominator.
What i dont understand is why are they dieting. They are all skinny as hell they don’t need to diet anymore, sure they can’t eat sweets or super unhealthy food, but they can have a balanced diet given how much they exercise with dance practices. But it just tells me that the amount of pressure and stress they’re under is immense, and quite a few of them are probably battling BED followed by ultra restrictive diets. And I’m not saying that gymnastics and ballet are not a cesspit of unhealthy habits, but something more akin to that would be better. Treating them like high performance athletes, that need fuel, making sure their weight is stable, that they eat a well balanced diet, the point is they can dance and perform exceptionally; because the yo yo weight fluctuating and crashes and restrictions just will make them unhealthy, malnourished and weak.
I’ve said it before, but when you listen to how superstars like Taylor swift prepare for touring, it’s nothing like what anyone would expect. It’s like an athlete training for the Olympics. That’s what these idols need. Well they need no one to care about how much they weight but we know that’s not happening any time soon…
Idols have set weights they're allowed to get to while they're not promoting and a set weight for when they are. Being underweight for an extended period of time is extremely difficult, you'll need to gain some weight at some point. However clothes and stage outfits for the active periods are fitted to their lowest weight, so most idol diets are actually crash diets so they can go back to their allowed weight so they can fit into those outfits
That's why they're always dieting, when they're not active the body gets to a more normal weight (usually still underweight but not as crazy) There's a lot of times people complain about idol's clothes not being flattering, being tight and digging into their bodies. Most of the time it's because they didn't manage to lose enough weight on time
Unfortunately in order to maintain a low weight you can’t just go on a diet and then relax for a while because you’ll start gaining the weight back pretty quickly. I think some companies probably do treat idols more like athletes and give them nutritionists and everything (stray kids comes to mind when I think of pre-military era athletic groups that seem healthy) but some companies just make them eat salad and chicken breast for every meal, and some of them make them skip meals entirely which is so unethical.
Honestly speaking: they kind of have to.
Most of these girls are pretty short and very thin. In order to maintain that when not currently active you need a pretty low caloric intake given how they have basically very little muscle too.
When you have those kinds of stats a takeout meal can be your whole energy need for a whole day.
They don't do it cause it's fun, they have to or they'll get from underweight (which a lot are) to normal weight and the public will shame them for it because god forbid you have an upper normal bmi as an idol. If you get anywhere near overweight you can almost be bullied out of the industry.
> Treating them like high performance athletes, that need fuel, making sure their weight is stable, that they eat a well balanced diet
This is a very good point, yet a chunk of the idol industry seems to live off take out and iced coffee.
Thank you for posting this because I feel like this is so important for people to realize. I struggled with an ED for years and every bad thing is magnified x1000 when you’re underweight and hungry. Not saying idols have EDs necessarily but crash dieting has the effect on your body and mind. It’s much harder to think with logic over emotion, it’s really common to feel depressed and overwhelmed, you’re always cold and/or sore, you have no energy, it’s really easy to get hurt and it takes longer to heal.
It was so bad for me I couldn’t even shower some days, and I had to crawl up the stairs to my bedroom. I would wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat and feel like I was dying. And crazily, I wasn’t even as thin as some of the idols I see today. Clearly some of them are only functioning because they have a constant intake of caffeine and IV infusions and that’s just insane to me. Even those things can only go so far, so I’m never surprised when someone collapses, sprains something, gets really sick, or has to take a mental health hiatus.
Anyone who argues that ALL of them are naturally thin is completely misinformed. There’s always someone saying something like “well my cousin is 5’8 and 95 pounds and she’s healthy! She eats soo much!” But that is so far from reality for 99.99% of people. There’s a reason why you don’t see people who are “kpop skinny” very often, even out and about in Korea.
Also I understand why people say we shouldn’t talk about anyone’s bodies but tbh I think acting like it’s a taboo is crazy, we’re just completely ignoring the elephant in the room. I think specifics / speculation in a public forum should be avoided but I think the way these companies force idols to diet is not okay, and aspiring to have an idol skinny body and crash dieting to achieve that is also not okay and it should be talked about.
This is a vulnerable thing to talk about, and as someone who has also struggled with an ED, I appreciate you posting it.
You hit my frustration exactly. The dieting and body standards are the elephant in the room. Would every problem in the industry magically disappear without the enforcement of these body standards? No. But holy crap, can you even imagine how different the daily lives of these idols would be if they weren’t enforced?
Isnt that the same group where two members said they have a 17 inch waist? That isnt normal or healthy.
I know Yunjin has talked about calories just being a number and I have heard Eunchae say they eat well during comebacks but we cant verify any of that. Even the most daring gg (imo) idle who has a song about how all girls are queencards has admitted to how bad their company enforced diets. Shuhua said they put up pictures to shame them.
Absolutely. At the end of the day, I’m assuming very few, if any, of us commentators are medical professionals that understand how to respond to and treat disordered eating. It’s definitely a change that has to come from the top down, because fixating on how to address every idol’s health issues individually is not going to solve the systemic issue.
One thing we know about humans and beauty standards is that they change over time. And humans develop beauty standards and preferences based on what they’re exposed to.
It's tricky to solve for, because we don't want to shame skinny idols obviously but EDs are almost seen as sexy nowadays by young people especially. They more or less glamorize it. Ive seen some disgusting tiktok comments of likely young women beating themselves up because they aren't that skinny and are trying to be
Unfortunately if you're an idol you are incentivized to be skin and bones because it's the "beauty standard". You also shield yourself from people shaming you for not being skin and bones, so money ultimately talks.
The focus should be on physical fitness and stamina, keeping idols at a certain weight is nonsense and it's one of the worse aspects of the Kpop industry
It should be on that but sadly it isn't and it's not going to change unless a big societal shift happens.
The companies frankly don't care about the idols health, they care about the money they rake in, and sadly decades of propaganda pushed on us all have made being unreasonably skinny "body goals".
It's disgusting but this isn't an issue just with kpop or any entertainment industry, but rather a societal issue on how we aren't immediately repulsed and angry when we see people being more or less forced to waste themselves away
r/kpop • [6]Summarize
What does the K-Pop community think about the way K-Pop idols starve themselves to meet "dietary requirements"?
Posted by Anton_Memes17 · in r/kpop · 5 years agoThere have been multiple articles released exposing the way that some K-Pop idols starve themselves to become skinny.
What are your thoughts on the treatment of idols in the private eye?
Lot of kpop fans are sadly in denial about how prevalent disordered eating habits are, especially amongst female idols. Even if their diets are nutritionally sound, most of them probably stress about weight to an unhealthy level. Idk if there’s much we can do as ifans. Most of the pressure to be so thin is probably coming from domestic fans anyway.
The way idols in general talk about food and appearance screams disordered eating habits to me. Obviously most of them probably don't have a diagnosable eating disorder, but that doesn't mean the way they've been conditioned to think about eating is healthy.
Folks do the requisite pearl clutching when they hear of insane diets some idols put themselves through. Then you have the contingent of folks who refer to any idol (particularly if their female) who are a normal healthy weight as "thicc" or worse - calling them fat.
Eunha of GFRIEND is constantly referred to as thicc when she's normal weight. Poor Kyla of Pristin and Nancy of Momoland (both teenage girls) have been called "too fat to be idols".
Unless the constant weight and body shaming stops, the pressure to be thin for girls will not end. It has to start with fans being more accepting that good health should be the standard - not the arbitrary weighing under 45 kg.
The female RBW trainees recently posted a vlog about what they eat in a day, and the description says:
"Too much diet is not good for your health. Healthy eating habits and moderate exercise are the most important!"
Obviously this is just one company, but I do hope the majority of the industry has the same attitude (even if parts of it clearly does not)
I mean... loads of idols say that, and then talk about how their healthy diet is a salad with nuts, boiled chicken, and milk
You can see examples of what they eat in the video, and RBW's other groups always eats well. Idk what to tell you.
This is one reason why I appreciate rbw as a company so much, they give their idols so much freedom not only creative wise but also in knowing what's best for them .
They don't have a diet plan, they don't have a dating ban and you can see how happy they are there.
Yes rbw has a history of overworking their idols but they have started to take their idols health more seriously recently, for example:
Xion was adviced not to take part at one of their recent performances because he had a cold so he stayed home in bed during that time and was cured in no time
People say they dont want them to starve but on the other hand complain and mock them if they are even a bit chunky in mvs or stages so its like what do u want
Healthy idols who dgaf about trolls or their troll opinions.
I mean this is a bit of a generalization...
Sorry, didn't mean to say ALL idols, but a good few do in fact go through extreme dieting.
A good few out of what, hundreds and maybe nearly thousands of idol groups that debut? Isn’t that just picking out the bad apples out of many people?
r/kpop_uncensored • [7]Summarize
Why do kpop idols share their unhealthy diets aka ed behaviors
Posted by PinkMangoDolly · in r/kpop_uncensored · 3 months ago[removed]
This might sound insensitive, and there’s a high chance I’ll get downvoted, but oh well.
When it comes to people being triggered, no one, online or in public, is obligated to avoid potentially triggering topics. I know that sounds harsh and it sucks, believe me, I know. But the truth is, people shouldn’t be restricted from talking about their routines, especially when most idols are just sharing their own experiences. They’re not saying “Go diet now.” If someone is interpreting it that way, it's because of their own issues. And those issues are theirs to work through. Idol silence won’t magically fix them.
That said, dieting is extremely normalized in East Asia. Honestly, even as a European, I’ve seen similar attitudes in many European countries too. It’s problematic, no doubt, for years, dieting hasn’t just been mentioned, it’s was promoted. But these idols were born, live, and work in Korea. No amount of “they’re going global” is going to change the fact that this is the cultural norm for them, even when it's harmful or tied to disordered eating.
Also, and I don’t think this gets talked about enough, fans contribute to this issue more than they realize. Idols talk about their diets, food, and weight loss because people constantly ask them about it. They’re always getting comments about what they eat, how much, and how their bodies look.
When people are constantly commenting on how idols look, what they eat, how much weight they gain or lose, of course, companies are going to pressure them, and of course, idols are going to talk about it, it's a vicious circle. Idols often bring up their diets because they're being asked about it. Is it problematic? Yes. sometimes it is, but it’s kind of a lose-lose situation for them. They can’t completely ignore the topic when everyone around them — fans, media, even their own companies — keeps bringing it up.
All in all, yes, it’s tasteless, and yes, it can be triggering. But at the same time, it’s not their responsibility to manage triggers for people they don’t know. And as long as they’re not promoting these diets or encouraging others to follow them, I don’t think we can demand they stop talking about their own bodies and experiences, because a teenager might follow their lead. It's their parents' job to help them with a potential bad relationship with food, not the idols. And if there is an issue, then they should do something about it.
I get your point, and honestly, it does make sense when it comes to adults, they’re capable of making informed decisions. But the same can’t be said for teenagers. By that logic, you could say the same thing about idols. They’re not obligated to respond to fans’ comments about their weight. Still, their agencies should be responsible for providing psychological support to help them manage these kinds of expectations.
The issue is, these companies and idols often perpetuate diet culture from the start. When idols share their diet routines, it’s hard to deny the influence that has, especially on young, impressionable fans. At the very least, they should be transparent about the emotional and physical toll that comes with extreme dieting. But more often than not, they only highlight the “success” without acknowledging what it really took to get there.
Teenagers should be monitored by their parents if they’re struggling with food issues — I said that in the first comment, point blank. Parents are responsible for their kids. The number of things idols are expected to perfectly navigate just to make sure no one is ever influenced by them is honestly unrealistic. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth.
>The issue is, these companies and idols often perpetuate diet culture from the start.
The issue is that Korea has extremely strict standards when it comes to weight, and this isn’t just limited to K-pop. As long as fans (and yes, domestic fans do this a lot, though some Western fans are guilty too) constantly comment on and criticize idols for gaining weight, companies will keep pushing diets, and idols will keep dieting.
Companies cater to what fans respond to. If fans stay obsessed with how idols look, what they eat, and how much they weigh, that’s what the industry will focus on. It’s shitty, but that’s the reality.
K-pop isn’t easy to engage with if you struggle with image issues and EDs, it requires a pretty strong stomach (no pun intended). And idols not talking about it won’t fix the problem. Because even if they stay silent, they are still visible. Their bodies are constantly on display.
Teenagers are their parents' responsabilty, that argument will never really sit well. Of course it is wrong, but we go back to that being normal for them, the emotional and physical toll you talk about is normal in their eyes.
This is a topic that goes beyond Kpop and won't be solved by it.
You know that idols and companies aren’t a monolith, right? What you call ‘perpetuating diet culture’ more often than not is just idols trying to share more about themselves or answer a question. You’re attributing malice where there is none.
Cultural context is also important. In Korea where standards for appearance is more strict, in an occupation that’s as appearance focused as being an entertainer, something that the west may call pathological is seen as disciplined or admirable. Is it backwards? Yes, but that’s the environment that they’ve built, and only they have right and duty to change it for the better.
If you see teenagers in your community struggling with ED, then you’re free to make changes to your community and impress on them what you deem right, moral, and healthy yourself. Stop handing off the responsibility to other people and point out negatives without making an effort yourself.
I find it patronizing when people from different cultures and countries starts nitpicking and demanding another culture completely change to fit their personal cultural standards. They have no responsibility for your health, wellbeing, or safety. That role falls to you yourself.
Besides, Idols aren’t your beacons and morality and health. They’re entertainers who sing and dance for profit. They’re there to sell you shit, not parent your teenagers. Don’t like that? Then don’t support or consume idol content.
Expecting them to be morally perfect on top of being entertainers is contributing to another insidious problem where idols are pressured to be flawless in every aspect. At the end of the day they’re just humans.
Taking one step back, idols are expected (by their fans just as much as their label) to share so much of themselves to the public. So, they share what they can when they can and it happens to align with an already strict regimen (I’ll argue that while the labels push hard on this, fans can be just as bad/cruel with criticism).
Now, we really don’t know everything that goes on behind the scenes and I think that’s an important consideration bc perception =/= reality and there’s a tendency to make projections in order to fill the gaps which is often not to our benefit. In lieu of hard data, we should tread carefully so we don’t go down the wrong path.
With that said, while several groups make offhand comments that they don’t sit down and have normal meals, they also mention they snack/eat throughout the day (ex. Momo’s famous snack bag) which is pretty common for any job where there’s not a lot of breaks and/or is very physical (not limited to entertainment by any means).
Between what is known and what can be surmised from the increased physicality and a gradual but increasing appreciation for what is unfortunately referred as looking “healthy,” things are at least trending in a more positive direction than earlier gens.
>Knowing most kpop fans are teenagers
This is demonstrably not true (polls and academic research places the average age in the 20s with a long tail in the bell curve stretching further out), but I understand the sentiment.
I just point this out to say most K-pop fans are full adults who can do a better job at recognizing what is and is not “normal,” lending toward discussions such as these where there can be some substantive discourse. And in turn, we can talk to our juniors to help curb unreasonable expectations and misperceptions.
A part of it is probably because diet culture and EDs are normalized in Kpop, so it just seems normal to mention. A lot of idols may also view their EDs as normal after being in the industry for awhile
But I still don’t get it, now that K-pop is becoming more global, why are the companies letting this? Like they micro manage everything an idol does, but this one is okay?
Because kpop companies have korean mentality. They are probably proud of their idols sharing that they only eat half and apple for breakfast.
That’s a good point, but I think it’s a problem that extends further than Kpop companies. It’s true that talking about EDs and mentioning them like it’s normal isn’t okay, but this problem exists in the west as well as in Asia. And generally speaking, idols and celebrities (such as models) have to fit a certain beauty standard or have a distinct look to be successful in some way.
Because who do you think taught them to see it as normal? It's normal for the vast majority of people and Korea is and forever will be their most important area, they won't really try to cater to the other part of the fandom.
I think they think it’s normal, which to them it is. It’s the sad reality. It can be confusing as a fan because they talk about it so casually but mention in the same talk that we should eat well.
r/kpophelp • [8]Summarize
Male idol diets, especially on their rookie days
Posted by throwacct7542 · in r/kpophelp · 3 years agoThis is just a curious question. Are there other male idols who have mentioned their diets, most especially the drastic ones during their rookie days? I don't think I've seen much about it compared to female idols. There's Momo's really really bad diet that she had to eat ice cubes, or some female idols who where only allowed to like eat a sweet potato, apple, and some other vegetable for the day.
Anyway, how about male idols? Were they open about it? I remember Baekhyun jokingly mentioned once in a show how idols these days (I think he was referring to NCT) have it more easy when it comes to food. When they were trainees, they were only allowed like one gimbap for the whole year. There's also Kai (I think?) where he mentioned that wherever he is now made what they experienced before worth it. He mentioned "diet" briefly but not specifically what kind. This made me think that EXO also really had it bad with their diets.
I'm curious about other BGs, what kinds of diets where they subjected to?
A lot of male idols have been on highly restrictive diets in order to have abs or just because it’s a toxic industry. I know some BTS and EXO members have had some strict diets in the past — idols in general don’t talk about dieting as much anymore (or at least not in as much detail).
I know that almost, if not all, idols have really really restrictive diets especially on their rookie days. I'm new to kpop in general and have only been familiar with EXO so the contents I know of are mostly just about them. There's also that one time when Sehun had to perform topless so after his performance, his hyungs gave him pizza and he said that it tasted delicious even tho it's cold because he hasn't had it in a while.
I guess there aren't much. I'm just wondering if there were other groups who have talked about their experiences about their diets.
Baekhyun also had a restrictive diet similar to this around Monster/Lotto era. He stopped shortly after his 1 abs reveal though.
Adding on to what op said above that process is usually called cutting water (weight cutting) and it’s pretty common among athletes that need to fit into weight classes and it involves not drinking water or eating water rich foods. Bang Chan (SKZ) mentions doing it for a Kingdom performance. It can be somewhat dangerous if done incorrectly but hopefully they don’t do it too much 😭
This is very common for entertainment in general whenever dudes have to show off their abs or shoot shirtless pictorials or film, and not just kpop. I remember Henry Cavill talking about how dehydrated he was when filming his shirtless Witcher scenes. Like, he wouldn’t drink water for a whole day: “On the first day you'll have a litre and a half, the second day half a litre and the third day no water and you'll shoot on the fourth (day)”- Cavill
Imagine almost being kicked out of a company because they don’t feed you. This is why I couldn’t be an idol 😭I’d simply leave, go to McDonald’s, and send a selfie to Lee Soo Man of me scarfing down a Big Mac. Fuck my dreams, I’m tryna eat
No wonder the members always tell fans to eat well; they all have PTSD from when SM starved them.
Things didn’t start getting better until SM started getting sued by ex-TVXQ and ex-EXO members. There were also vids of EXO members fainting on stage that circulated during their early years.
The lawsuits put SM’s dirty laundry out there. The company had to do better due to public scrutiny and fan pressure.
Even still, the pressure to lose weight before comebacks is still there.
I can think of one currently and it’s been Felix of Stray Kids explaining for EOTY stages that he only eats one meal a day, or sometimes just a huge carrot.
It breaks my heart.
What - really? I know carrots has been his thing lately, but I also know he eats it with kimchi fried rice. Didn't know about the only carrots thing for the whole day...
I'm a little hesitant to believe that's all he eats because even in SKZ-Talker and Kingdom BTS, there's ALWAYS food around them and the kids are always eating or munching on something (milk tea, chicken, some lunch box, fruits, boiled eggs, etc)
Probably Red Velvet?
not rookie days, and he didn't say it himself, but ateez yeosang's former classmate said that he used to eat half of a sweet potato a day while he was a bighit trainee. it's really sad to think about, and im really thankful that he's in kq now, where they don't have any food budget limits.
on top of the half a potato a day, he had really long days, and barely got any sleep, especially because his commuting hours were so long. i feel really sad when i think about this, and wish i could give him the biggest hug :(
r/kpoprants • [9]Summarize
Kpop idols shouldn’t talk about their diets or their eating habits
Posted by ItsMeButHow · in r/kpoprants · 2 years agoOn one hand, I've seen idols talking about their extremely unhealthy diets. It's good to speak up about your ED and stuff, don't get me wrong, but they shouldn't say stuff like "I didn't eat for × days" or "I only ate x and y". That's just messed up and really triggering.
On the other hand, idols saying "I eat 3 meals a day plus snacking"... I also feel like that could be a bad thing. Some people will be like "oh, I do that too, but I still don't look as skinny as them. Why is that?". And they can become really insecure because of that, right?
I want to end this by saying that this post is made by a person who developed and ED after getting into Kpop. I never had any trouble with my body image before that, but as soon as I got to see how idols look.. I wanted to look like them. And that's NOT their fault in any way. But seeing idols talking about their eating patterns is still a trigger to this day for me.
"I eat three meals a day"... it depends what exactly they're eating. Dieting doesn't mean eating once a day, actually it's a lot better to separate the food we eat throughout the day, so them saying they eat three times is actually healthy.
Then yes, I agree on the fact they shouldn't talk about their diets since they're often very extreme and they're not doctors. Culture plays a role too, ED is an issue that is considered sensitive in the western world mainly, while in Korea talking about dieting, losing or gaining weight is like talking about getting a haircut. I could mention infinite examples, not only in lives but in all sorts of content.
While I agree with the majority of the commenters that it's not really an idol's fault for taking about diets or eating healthily or whatever, I find it laughable that a lot of the comments just say shit about how "you don't need to look like them, get over it" as if that kind of advice has ever been helpful to anyone with an ED.
I think that’s just their life — it’s so ingrained and natural that people talk about it that it’s not given a thought until someone points it out and even then might not be understood. I’ll give an example I’ve see of something similar — It’s a bit like how people talk about how they work so hard they never have time to sleep or relax and it becomes like a competition even though it leads to burnout. A lot of people don’t think twice about talking like that’s a good thing even if it isn’t — especially in certain professions, but also college students would do this too, acting like working yourself to the bone is an accomplishment.
That mindset of overworking being a positive thing can make you feel inadequate to the point of neglecting your own health just to also see yourself as that useful, when in reality everyone should probably realize just how toxic it all is. I can blame them and say they shouldn’t promote that mindset but also I can’t because we are all getting the same messages from many people around us but being affected in different ways. There’s a reason so many people are like that and there’s a reason idols talk about this a lot without thinking too much.
The other problem is that fans bring it up a LOT. Like every TXT vlive/weverse live and some BTS lives I’ve watched people ask about food or if that person has lost or gained weight. I guess fans are asking for the same reason (mostly k-fans who live in the same culture) but that also makes it seem more like a conversation topic than something to be careful talking about.
Such a tricky topic because at one point we lean towards either a very important discussion of how toxic diet culture is in kpop, or flat out witnessing a ton of impressionable fans getting defensive over their fave idols' body image and whatnot.
If someone develops an eating disorder because idols talk about their eating habits then they have to quit kpop and seek help.
r/kpopthoughts • [10]Summarize
How do idols eat so much junk food during comeback promotions if they are on a diet
Posted by Dependent-Ad-9042 · in r/kpopthoughts · 3 years agoI am talking about girl groups here since i am mostly a gg fan. I watch a lot of backstage content related to promotions and idols seem to eat really calorie dense foods like ramyun, pizza, fries, rice etc while at the same time most of the girls are underweight and are supposed to be on strict diets. I don’t think they just do it for the camera, since they can just choose to not show food related content at all.
i think many probably calorie restrict leading up to an album release to be in good shape for photo shoots, MV but during promotions they go heavier on caloric intake due to the energy they burn during promotional schedules.
It may be the only thing they eat that day as others say, but it may also be the case that during comebacks they burn so many calories they can eat that junk food.
The amount of dance practice and other exercise that idols do (especially during comeback times) make it so that they can eat a bit more.
Actually, according to Taeyeon, it's harder to keep the weight off during promotions because of the inconsistent schedules, hoarding food due to not knowing if they'll have more to eat, and not being able to exercise properly / spending a lot of time in a van.
Probably for the same reason why a lot of people fall back on it during stressful times: It's easy to get, it requires none to very little additional effort to prepare, and it's tasty and satisfying in a way that just hits the spot, especially when your mood is not the best.
The amount of junk food I have eaten during performance season is appalling. But honestly, when you are low on energy and time, having something high on empty calories (and low in effort) is just what you need to be the energetic and happy person on stage before crashing afterwards. Add to that that energy dense snacks are faster to eat (don't need to eat as much) and and often bitesized (worrying about makeup and costume), and chocolate etc. are easy to carry around and you have perfect conditions for easily having terrible eating habits during stressful times
the food they eat on show is probably their only meal for the day.
As others have said, it's their only meal
>!Darker possibility, they are forced or force themselves to puke it out after!<
As dark and sad as it is, it is probably very common in the industry
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AI Answer
What diet do kpop idols follow
Key Considerations for K-Pop Idol Diets:
Caloric Restriction: Many K-Pop idols follow a low-calorie diet to maintain their slim figures. This often involves consuming fewer calories than the average daily intake.
Balanced Nutrition: While calorie restriction is common, idols typically focus on a balanced intake of proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. Lean proteins (like chicken and fish), vegetables, and whole grains are staples.
Meal Frequency: Some idols eat smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large meals. This can help manage hunger and maintain energy levels.
Hydration: Staying hydrated is crucial. Many idols drink plenty of water and may avoid sugary drinks.
Avoiding Processed Foods: Idols often limit or avoid processed foods, sugary snacks, and fast food to maintain their health and appearance.
Specialized Diets: Some idols may follow specific diets, such as the ketogenic diet, veganism, or intermittent fasting, depending on personal preferences and goals.
Takeaways:
Sustainability: While these diets can be effective for weight management, they may not be sustainable long-term. It's important to prioritize health over appearance.
Consult a Professional: If considering a similar diet, it's advisable to consult a nutritionist or dietitian to ensure nutritional needs are met.
Individual Variation: Remember that each idol's diet can vary significantly based on their personal goals, body type, and health needs. What works for one may not work for another.
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