02/7They follow a well-balanced diet From protein to carbs to fat, a healthy Korean diet consists of all, but in a well-balanced form. Besides, Koreans are also very particular about portion sizes. They avoid overeating and also incorporate physical activity in their day-to-day routine.
The K-pop diet is all about cutting down on fried, oily and fat-loaded foods. It focuses on foods that are rich in protein and other essential nutrients. While red meat is one of the staples in Korean cuisines, chicken and seafood are the preferred source of protein in the country. These also help in losing weight.
The staple of Korean diets rely on foods that are low in carbs as their culture is rich in delicious meats and green vegetables. Their philosophy to a healthy diet is to reduce the amount of oily or carb heavy foods which makes them lose weight naturally.
In fact, many people have even referred to the standard of beauty in Korea as unobtainable, as the ideal height of 162 cm (approximately 5 feet and 4 inches) and weight of 42 kg (about 93 pounds) is outside the reach for many, due to the strict exercise and diet regimen necessary to attain and maintain such a figure.
In 2021, the average weight of South Korean women aged 19 years or younger lay at 59.87 kilograms. Women across all age categories tended to have similar weight averages, with the exception of women aged 80 years and older, who weighed significantly less.
But the average woman aged 20 to 24 in the country is 1.6m tall and has a waist size of 28 inches and hip size of 36 inches, according to the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards in 2015.
Alongside boiled rice, a typical Korean breakfast might include soups, fish or meat stews, and side dishes called banchan. Banchan are small plates of fermented vegetables including the most famous Korean dish, kimchi. These are some of the same dishes you might find on a lunch or dinner menu.
Eating healthy, regularly and in small portions are key methods in having and staying slim. Focusing on whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and complex carbohydrates are important. Many K-Pop idols prefer to stay away from processed foods and fried snacks, due to the high-fat content.
Long noodles also equate with long life and a long-lasting marriage and are therefore eaten on birthdays, at weddings and on special occasions such as a hwangap – a 60th birthday (or 61st in Korean numbering), a celebration of cultural significance in the country.
Boiled white rice will not lead to weight gain if consumed in moderation, and boiled brown rice can assist in weight loss. Yes, you can eat rice after a workout to lose weight. Choose whole grain rice such as brown rice, and pair it with high-fibre vegetables and protein sources.
Thus, for Koreans, overweight is defined as 23 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2 and obesity is BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (WHO, 2000).
Therefore, the following modified BMI cut points are commonly used for analyses of the Korean population: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-22.9 kg/m2), overweight (23.0-24.9 kg/m2), and obese (≥25.0 kg/m2) [24].
The disparity stems from the fact that the international standard for obesity is a BMI of 30 or more, while the Korean standard is a BMI of 25 or more. South Korea classifies BMI figures of 25-29 as first-level obesity, 30-34 as second-level obesity, and 35 and above as third-level.
According to a survey conducted in 2019 by Ipsos on global attitudes toward beauty, around 58 percent of South Korean respondents stated that they preferred women to be between 5 feet 5 inches (around 165cm) to 5 feet 9 inches (around 175cm) tall.
In 2021, the average male middle school student in South Korea weighed 63.7 kilograms, while the average female student weight 53.6 kilograms.
In 2021, the male student population aged 16 in South Korea weighed 71.5 kilograms on average. Their female classmates had an average weight of 57.8 kilograms. The average weight for male high school students gradually increased in recent years, while the weight for female students fluctuated.
“According to my hair stylist, Korean women use a hair essence or oil every single day, which is why they have such silky, soft, and shiny strands.” A personal favorite for Cho is British M's Organics Annatto Hair Oil, while Lee is a fan of the Mise en Scene Pearl Shining Hair Essence.
When it comes to skincare, Cho says Korean women use “natural skin brighteners such as rice extracts, vitamin C, and licorice, as well as exfoliators. For stubborn brown spots, they will visit the dermatologist to lighten the brown spots using lasers.”
If you want to look young and have a great complexion, adapt a lifestyle similar to Japanese women who are known for having smooth, clear and youthful skin. Many Japanese women maintain a diet rich in vitamins and minerals that contain antioxidants.