As a K-pop idol, it is always a must to look good on and off the camera. Thus, a celebrity should manage herself or himself properly, especially when it comes to their physical appearances.
Often, Korean female idols are labelled as "doll-like idols," with long and slimmer legs, small waist, and chiselled jawline. In this case, idols with a healthy-looking figure should undergo an extreme diet to reach the Korean beauty standards, which is leading some of K-idols to experience eating disorders, adding that there is always that pressure and hateful comments coming from fault-finding netizens.
1. IU
The famous Korean singer and actress, IU, during her rookie days, experienced eating disorders due to the combined pressure of the music industry and society. After gaining praises for her song, "Good Day," the female singer felt that she was not enough, and filled the empty space in her heart through eating. IU then experienced Bulimia, wherein she unhealthily gained weight.
"I eat food until I throw up," the singer confessed in 2014 when she guested at the show "Healing Camp." She added that she received treatment due to her uncontrollable intake of food.
2. Jang Nara
The Korean singer who became famous around the country after releasing her songs including "Promise" and "Confession," also talked about experiencing Bulimia. Due to the pressure, as she paved her way to success as a singer and actress, she took food as her companion to release her stress.
3. AOA's Jimin
The female idol caused worries and concerns last 2019 after fans noticed her extreme weight loss. Compared to her other photos, her loss of weight was allegedly serious. FNC Entertainment, later on, denied the speculations, saying, "Jimin doesn't have a health problem." The agency added that she was working out, which explained why she was losing weight. However, netizens believed that Jimin was experiencing Anorexia.
4. IZ*ONE's Hitomi
Lately, WIZ*ONEs are worried about the current physical state of Hitomi, which fans claimed that the idol must be suffering from an eating disorder. This concern started after her sudden weight loss from "Violeta" to "FIESTA." In addition to this, a photo from a concert performance last year resurfaced again, wherein her ribs have been more noticeable. Her iconic "bunny cheeks" were also gone.
Hitomi has been updating that she's undergoing physical exercise, uploading her photos while in the gym. There is no statement about this speculation yet.
5. ITZY's Lia
ITZY's Lia has been bothering the fans lately. Basing it on her photos that have been circulating online, which is a comparison of her flashback photos to the present, it is obvious that she had a sudden weight loss. Her physique, which the fans have witnessed while she was promoting for "ICY" last December 2019 with her group, makes fans think she might be suffering from a health problem.
Lia was known during her pre-debut days to have chubby cheeks and a healthier figure. However, her body is currently quite alarming. Fans are talking about her having Anorexia, but the idol herself confirmed that she's eating well.
These are some of the idols who suffered and have been speculated to be suffering from eating disorders, only entirely basing it on the change of their body weight to fit in the Korean beauty standards. Also, the agencies have the set a weight goal for each idol, which is what they believe as the ideal one. Though fans respect this notion, we are hoping that it is also aligned with what's healthy for these celebrities.
