Baek Jin-kyung reveals 20kg weight loss from past starvation diet, warns of pitfalls

South Korean creator Baek Jin-kyung has opened up about her past struggles with body image, revealing she resorted to extreme dieting in college. In a YouTube video posted on her channel 'Honorary Briton world,' Baek shared photos from her university days, admitting, "I was a bit obsessed with my looks back then and went on that diet where you just starve yourself."

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I was a bit obsessed with my looks back then and went on that diet where you just starve yourself.

She recalled starving herself during the summer break of her first year of university, losing between 15 and 20 kilograms with minimal exercise. "I just starved myself, and the weight just melted off," she said. Baek later transitioned to losing weight through exercise, recounting her time working at a gym. "I fell in love with fitness while working out at the gym back then and worked out really hard," she explained, noting significant weight loss during that period.

However, the article also highlights the health risks associated with rapid weight loss. Research from the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases suggests that losing weight too quickly can increase the likelihood of developing gallstones. The institute notes that very low-calorie diets and weight-loss surgery can accelerate weight reduction, thereby raising gallstone risk.

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I just starved myself, and the weight just melted off.

A Swedish study published in the International Journal of Obesity in 2014 compared 6,640 individuals. Those on very low-calorie diets experienced 48 cases of gallstones requiring hospitalization, compared to 14 cases in the group on lower-calorie diets, indicating a threefold increase in risk. The NIDDK recommends choosing a healthy eating plan that can be maintained long-term and combining it with regular physical activity for sustainable weight management.

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I fell in love with fitness while working out at the gym back then and worked out really hard.

Concluding her video, Baek encouraged viewers to pursue what they want without worrying about others' opinions. "Exploring the version of yourself that you like the most isn't a bad thing," she advised.

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Exploring the version of yourself that you like the most isn't a bad thing.