In South Korea, there is a very strong perception that girls and women need to be skinny in order to be attractive. Heightened by K-pop idols, actors, and television stars, many people desire to look just as skinny as them. Hence, many celebrities have shared their diet stories and successes, one of the most popular diet to be known as the “IU diet.”
IU is a South-Korean singer-songwriter who went on many strict diets after being criticized when she debuted. Her most famous diet consists on one apple for breakfast, two small sweet potatoes for lunch, and a protein powder shake for dinner.
The word caught on, and this unhealthy, extreme form of cutting down your calories went viral. Students, teenagers, workers, and moms all tried the “IU diet” for themselves after hearing its success.
Unfortunately, an unbalanced, strict diet usually does not have lasting effects. In fact, IU herself mentioned later on that she does not recommend this food plan to anyone. She only followed this plan because she was unaware and needed to lose weight in a short time frame. IU did not realize how many people were influenced by her experience and strongly encouraged people to try to lose weight in a healthy and happy manner.
Weight loss is never a one plan fits all situation. It is crucial to find something that works for you, instead of being swayed by media or other convincing anecdotes. You know yourself the best.