"Despite Intense Strength Training, Rain Diagnosed with Hyperlipidemia—How Can It Be Improved? [Health Issue]"

[Financial News] Singer Rain was recently diagnosed with hyperlipidemia (dyslipidemia) during a health checkup. While lack of exercise is a well-known cause of hyperlipidemia, attention has focused on Rain’s diagnosis, as he is known for consistently managing his diet and engaging in regular workouts such as weight training and CrossFit.
On the 20th, Rain uploaded a video on his YouTube channel 'Season B Season,' where he dined with guest Tzuyang. In the video, Rain revealed that he was advised by his doctor to 'exercise more' after being diagnosed with hyperlipidemia during his checkup. Despite having a variety of exercise equipment at home and regularly performing high-intensity workouts like boxing and CrossFit, he was unable to avoid hyperlipidemia.

According to research and clinical guidelines reported by Newsis News Agency on the 26th, strength training alone has limited effects on improving bad cholesterol, such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and Triglyceride. In particular, insufficient aerobic exercise may result in inadequate lipid improvement.
Jinheon Hong, an internal medicine specialist at Seran General Hospital, explained, "Generally, simply exercising a lot does not automatically improve lipid profiles. In reality, factors such as the type and intensity of exercise, the ratio of aerobic to strength training, dietary habits, and individual genetics all play a role."
Hyperlipidemia is a condition in which the levels of lipids (cholesterol, Triglyceride) in the blood are abnormally high, or the level of good lipids (HDL cholesterol) is too low. For this reason, exercise that can directly improve cholesterol levels is considered crucial in managing hyperlipidemia.
Aerobic exercise is effective in increasing HDL cholesterol and lowering Triglyceride, but its effect on reducing LDL can vary greatly between individuals and may be limited. It is recommended to perform at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily, such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, or stair climbing, with strength training as a supplement.

Weight management and dietary control are also vital. Even a 5–10% reduction in body weight can improve LDL and Triglyceride levels, and often leads to better blood pressure and blood sugar as well. Alcohol is a major contributor to increased Triglyceride and should be avoided if possible, while smoking reduces HDL cholesterol, making smoking cessation and moderation in drinking essential.
Hyperlipidemia often occurs alongside obesity or fatty liver, and these conditions can reinforce each other’s risk factors. If left untreated, hyperlipidemia can progress to Atherosclerosis, where cholesterol builds up on artery walls, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction (MI) and angina pectoris, as well as cerebrovascular diseases like Stroke and even Vascular dementia.
Dr. Hong advised, "People over 40 with abdominal obesity, lack of exercise, or frequent consumption of delivery food should pay particular attention to managing hyperlipidemia. Aerobic exercise is important, and for those with elevated Triglyceride, it is necessary to be cautious with carbohydrates, alcohol, sugars, and overeating. To improve LDL, it is essential to limit saturated fats found in pork belly, butter, fatty meats, as well as trans fats present in bread, snacks, fried foods, and fried chicken."
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter