On November 5, Way posted a video titled “Why K-pop Diets Fail + How to Succeed” on her personal YouTube channel, where she discussed the pitfalls of extreme dieting, referencing several idols by name.
Way began by commenting on WJSN’s Dayoung, praising her newly sculpted abs but noting her concern: “She lost 12kg in a short time, but it looks like she did it by starving herself. I saw her trying to do squats on fitness YouTuber Shim Euddeum’s channel, and she could barely move. That kind of weight loss will definitely lead to yo-yo dieting.”
She then turned her attention to HyunA, who recently posted a weight update on social media. Last month, HyunA declared her commitment to dieting with a caption reading, “HyunA, get it together. You used to love being super skinny. Let’s do this again.” On November 4, she revealed she had lost 10kg in one month, now weighing 49kg.
Way expressed concern over HyunA’s message: “I noticed she had gained some weight recently, and it was heartbreaking to see her self-blame in that post. She even used words like ‘f*** it,’ which hints at a reward-punishment cycle. Starving yourself again will just bring the weight back in a few months or a year. And as you age, starvation doesn’t even work anymore.”
Way emphasized her own journey toward sustainable health: “I’ve graduated from starving and now live as a ‘maintainer.’ My stomach has shrunk, so I feel full quickly. I eat well, have more energy, and can work and exercise better. Being mentally healthy leads to better work too. It’s a positive cycle.”
Her blunt remarks have reignited conversations about the dangers of unhealthy diet culture in K-pop, and the ongoing pressure idols face to meet unrealistic body standards.
Sources: Daum