Kim Yoo-jung Reveals Childhood Struggles with Dieting and Body Image
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Actress Kim Yoo-jung recently shared a poignant confession about the pressures she faced as a child actor, revealing a history of restrictive dieting and the resulting emotional distress. In an appearance on the health-focused program Health Talk [ํฌ์คํก], Kim Yoo-jung expressed sadness over being compelled to endure rigorous weight management from a young age, a practice sadly common within the South Korean entertainment industry.
The confession comes amid growing awareness of the detrimental effects of unrealistic beauty standards and the prevalence of eating disorders, notably among young women. According to a 2017 survey by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, over 20% of high school female students and nearly 17% of middle school female students reported engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors, including the use of diet pills, laxatives, diuretics, and induced vomiting. Kim Yoo-jung’s experience highlights the vulnerability of those entering the public eye at a young age and the potential for these pressures to manifest in harmful ways.
Kim Yoo-jung explained that she was subjected to constant scrutiny regarding her weight and appearance, leading to a cycle of extreme dieting followed by feelings of inadequacy and emotional pain. While she did not detail specific instances, she conveyed a deep sense of regret over having to prioritize weight loss over a healthy relationship with food and her body during her formative years. The actress emphasized the importance of self-acceptance and a balanced lifestyle, advocating for a shift away from the pervasive obsession with thinness.
Experts note that the root causes of such behaviors are frequently enough multifaceted, stemming from a combination of biological predispositions, psychological vulnerabilities like low self-esteem and anxiety, and societal pressures. Individuals with pre-existing impulse control disorders are also at increased risk. The experience of dieting, especially during adolescence, is a notable risk factor for developing eating disorders like bulimia nervosa, characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives.