The diet of people in showbiz has always been a huge point of contention. It has been like this for centuries; people want their idols to be perfect, both in mind and body, and the issue will likely never be fixed. In the K-pop idol industry, being skinny is admired, while gaining weight means losing the idol position or facing media backlash. As a result, stories about idols who barely eat anything during training have been circulating on the internet and in South Korea for years.
Among these stories, some of the most prevalent and worrying factors are their diets. Most of their diets are harsh, with idols only consuming one hundred calories per day to maintain their figures. Most only eat once a day, which results in young idols experiencing growth stunts. Due to the lack of food, their bodies do not develop properly, resulting in them being stuck in their teenage bodies. This, combined with their rigorous practices and choreography, results in extremely unhealthy lifestyles, often resulting in serious, long-lasting health issues.
Unfortunately, media portrayals of K-pop idol life often glamorize these darker issues. A recent Netflix movie, “K-pop Demon Hunters,” is an example of inaccurate representation. The movie portrays an idealized version of being a K-pop Idol—eating what you want, having control over your schedule, and having an understanding manager. Unfortunately, this is often not the case in the industry. Idols barely eat, rarely take breaks, and their managers set impossibly high standards for them that idols have to accomplish, often at the cost of their well-being. They also resort to extremely unhealthy weight loss tactics like vomiting, which results in low hormone levels.
Many Claremont High students familiar with this ill treatment have spoken out, including 10th-grade student Stella Diaz. “I don’t think anyone should be eating an unhealthy diet, especially if it pertains to negative self-image,” said Diaz.
The diets of K-pop idols are a major problem for both them and the K-pop industry as a whole. The unhealthy execution of these diets, among other factors, is leading to severe short and long-term issues for the idols dealing with these diets and the conditions around them.
