RESCENE MINAMI: "Why Won’t Pigs Lose Weight?"—The Risks Left by an Extreme Diet [Health Talk]

[Financial News] MINAMI, a member of the group RESCENE, said she experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after undergoing severe weight loss. She said comments from people around her, clothing fittings, and pressure to manage her weight all became sources of stress while she lost 20 kg.
In a video released on the YouTube channel “Hello I Am Woni Nice To Meet You” on the 11th, MINAMI recalled her experience dieting. “Every kind of stress in my daily life felt like it was directed at me through dieting,” she said. “Looking back on that time, I think I cried every day.”


MINAMI said she interpreted even ordinary comments from people around her as being related to her weight. She said that when her manager praised another idol while watching a video, she felt the comment was criticism directed at her. “I thought you were wondering why the pig next to me wasn’t losing weight, so I felt intimidated and withdrawn on my own,” she said.
She also remembered the clothing-fitting process as a painful experience. During RESCENE’s “Heart Drop” promotions, MINAMI tried on the same jeans as the other members for a music video fitting, but the jeans would not come up over her hips. She said her manager and stylist helped pull up the clothes, after which she went to the car and cried alone.
MINAMI described that period as “the most difficult time.” “The stress was so severe that I could barely breathe and had almost no energy,” she said. “I can think of it as a memory now, but I do not want to go back to that time.”

Losing a substantial amount of weight in a short period can place strain on both the body and mind. The problem becomes more serious when restricting food intake, repeatedly checking one’s weight, and anxiety over appearance-based evaluations begin to weigh on everyday life. Asan Medical Center’s disease encyclopedia explains that anorexia and bulimia symptoms may occur together in eating disorders, or only some symptoms may appear. It also notes that these disorders can involve a fear of gaining weight and distorted thoughts about weight and appearance.
However, MINAMI’s health condition cannot be determined based solely on remarks made on a broadcast. PTSD is not diagnosed simply because someone has difficult memories. The National Mental Health Information Portal explains that post-traumatic stress disorder may be considered for diagnosis when symptoms persist for more than one month after an accident or other traumatic event. Symptoms may include nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, hyperarousal, and anxiety. A confirmed diagnosis requires observation over a certain period and an evaluation by a mental health professional.
Extreme dieting can be accompanied by fatigue, lethargy, anxiety, and repeated cycles of binge eating and food restriction. Particularly during adolescence and young adulthood, drastically reducing food intake based solely on the number on the scale can lead to nutritional imbalances, irregular menstruation, and reduced concentration. If guilt about eating or fear of gaining weight has already intensified, the issue should not be dismissed as simply a matter of willpower.


Healthy weight management differs from trying to lose a large amount of weight in a short period. The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity’s “Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity” describes an approach that combines dietary therapy, exercise therapy, and behavioral therapy. The guidelines state that restricting calorie intake can result in an expected weight loss of approximately 0.5–1.0 kg per week.
At the end of the video, MINAMI also advised viewers to avoid overly demanding diets. She said the goal should not be simply to become thinner, but to find an approach that suits each individual. She added, “I hope my fans will not go on diets that are too difficult.”
Medical attention is needed if fear of food grows during weight loss, daily life becomes difficult because of the number on the scale, or binge eating, vomiting, or extreme food restriction occurs repeatedly. If anxiety, insomnia, or avoidance symptoms also appear, people should seek care from a department of psychiatry or a counseling service.

[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter