South Korea grapples with health risks of weight-loss obsession

South Korean women are four times more likely to be underweight than their male counterparts, according to health data highlighting the country's widespread weight-loss culture and its potential health consequences. The stark gender gap underscores the intense social pressure women face regarding body image and appearance standards.

Experts attribute the phenomenon to deeply embedded cultural preferences for thinness, particularly among younger women. Media representation, entertainment industry standards, and social expectations have created an environment where weight-loss becomes a dominant concern, often pursued through extreme dieting and lifestyle practices that can compromise physical and mental health.

Being underweight carries serious health risks, including malnutrition, weakened immune function, bone density loss, and reproductive complications. Mental health concerns such as eating disorders and body image anxiety are also increasingly documented among those pursuing aggressive weight-loss regimens.

Health authorities in South Korea have begun raising awareness about the dangers of unsustainable weight-loss practices, calling for more balanced approaches to health and wellness. Experts advocate for broader cultural shifts that move away from narrow beauty standards and toward more inclusive definitions of health and wellbeing in the region.