Many K-pop idols are known for their slim figures – and while some stars naturally have a fast metabolism, allowing them to eat anything and stay skinny, others, unfortunately, have to go through extreme diets to achieve the so-called “perfect figure”.
Many “K-pop idol diets” have gone viral over the years – and fans who tried them did succeed in losing weight. However, there are also diets that are so dangerous that even the idols who followed the regime don’t recommend anyone to go through with them. Here are five idols and the most extreme diet they’ve followed:
Mijoo (이미주)
Lovelyz (러블리즈) member and variety show star Mijoo once spoke about what she does when she needs to go on a diet to lose weight. According to the singer, she would only eat one meal per day in the evening, around 4-5pm, and only consume plain water for the whole day.
Adding to the extremity, her one meal would only be a simple salad and nothing else. It’s unclear whether Mijoo still follows this diet, but she did receive some backlash for sharing this method as netizens worry that it promotes eating disorders to young, impressionable fans.
IU (아이유)
The “IU diet” is arguably one of the most popular K-pop diets despite it being very restrictive. The diet consists of having one apple for breakfast, two sweet potatoes for lunch and a protein shake for dinner. The diet is so extreme that even IU herself quit the routine and discourages anyone from copying her, especially since it caused her to develop an eating disorder.
However, many did try this diet, and while they did lose weight, they also said they felt weak and sick after only a few days. Thankfully, IU has changed her food habits to something sustainable and healthy.
Felix (필릭스)
Of course, female idols aren’t the only ones who feel the pressure to lose weight and maintain a skinny figure. Stray Kids (스트레이키즈) rapper Felix once spoke about the “water diet” that he did before his big runway debut for Louis Vuitton at the 2024 Paris Fashion Week.
The idol said, “I drank water for three days, then only had bone broth soup for one day. It was very tiring, but it was all for the show in Paris, for the Louis Vuitton anniversary show.” While it may only be for one specific show, the diet was undeniably restricting, so fans voiced their concerns and urged the idol to never follow the diet again.
HyunA (현아)
When singer HyunA debuted, she was known for her slim yet sexy figure. Unfortunately, like many other idols, she received unnecessary comments about her weight and started obsessing over losing it. To do so, the singer would go to extreme lengths by forcing herself to survive on a single piece of kimbap (rice roll) each day.
HyunA also said she would starve herself for an entire week, all while performing her dance routines. Thankfully, she has since forgone those dangerous diets, opting for more balanced eating habits and gaining back her weight and health.
Momo (모모)
TWICE (트와이스) members have also followed some extreme diets, but main dancer Momo probably went through the craziest one – and even before she debuted. The idol said she was asked to lose 7kg when she was a trainee for the group’s debut showcase, so she resorted to eating a cube of ice for the whole week while still working out at the gym.
Momo said she lost the weight she needed for the showcase, but the members noted that she looked so pale, as if she was dying. However, as soon as she reached her weight goal, she stopped her diet and started eating normally, much to the members’ relief.
Sadly, many idols feel that they need to maintain a certain weight to fit into a specific standard of beauty. It’s also worth noting that many idols are also affected by hate comments – so perhaps netizens can refrain from making unnecessary remarks about a celeb’s figure and just let them breathe and be happy.
