Kim Shin Young “When I was 44kg, I was full of victim mentality, but now...”

Comedian Kim Shin Young has stopped the extreme dieting she maintained for 14 years. Although her weight has increased, she shared her recent status, noting that she is much healthier both mentally and physically than before.

Appearing on the YouTube channel ‘Chimchak Man’ on the 21st, Kim Shin Young revealed her feelings about facing the yo-yo effect after just six weeks, leaving behind the dieting lifestyle she had maintained for 14 years, starting from her thirties when she reduced her weight from 88kg to 44kg. She said, "It is so comfortable now that I have let everything go," adding, "Living with the mindset of 'Let's just eat, so what?' has made me very happy now, and my heart has become much more generous."

Letting go of 14 years of obsession at the words of the late Jeon Yoo-sung

Kim Shin Young opened up about the background that was both the driving force and the source of pain that allowed her to continue dieting. Recalling the time she maintained 44kg, she said she "endured with sheer grit and determination" because she was conscious of the gaze of those around her. She had a strong desire not to hear criticisms like "I knew you would be like that" from people around her. She confessed that 70% of her psychological pressure at the time came from the eyes of others, adding, "I was full of a sense of victimhood and inferiority complexes."

The decisive turning point for giving up the diet was the advice from the late Jeon Yoo-sung. Kim Shin Young said, "The professor's single remark, 'I hope you live a little while eating what you want to eat. Live happily,' was the biggest influence." Until then, she had ignored advice from acquaintances with slim physiques, but regarding her decision to stop dieting, she firmly replied, "I did well."

Physical changes: Escaping skinny obesity and the risk group for diabetes

Now that her weight has increased, Kim Shin Young is experiencing positive changes in her physical indicators as well. When she maintained 44kg, she only looked slim on the outside, but in reality, she was in a state of 'skinny obesity' with low muscle mass and a high body fat percentage. At that time, along with high cholesterol levels, she was in a high-risk group for diabetes due to stress, and she could not even sleep properly due to extreme stress.

Since the weight gain, her metabolic health has improved, with recent blood sugar tests showing normal levels. Kim Shin Young stated, "Actually, my health was worse when I was thin, and I couldn't sleep properly." Skinny obesity increases the risk of metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, even if weight or Body Mass Index (BMI) falls within the normal range, because it involves low muscle mass and high visceral fat.

Chronic stress caused by extreme food deprivation also threatened her health. When the secretion of 'cortisol,' a stress hormone, increases, insulin resistance rises, making blood sugar control difficult, causing fat to accumulate in the abdomen, and lowering sleep quality. Sleep is directly linked to blood sugar control. There are research results suggesting that diabetic patients who maintain regular sleep and activity patterns are about 2.3 times more likely to maintain their target blood sugar range than those who do not. Kim Shin Young explained her current stable state by mentioning how she could not sleep properly when she was thin in the past.

However, weight gain does not unconditionally mean health improvement. Rapid weight gain can increase the risk of blood pressure, blood sugar, and fatty liver. Experts emphasize that even if the Body Mass Index (BMI) is somewhat high, it is important to increase muscle mass. This is because muscle effectively consumes excess glucose in the body, helping to regulate blood sugar. Regarding the yo-yo effect, Kim Shin Young concluded by saying, "The good food for a yo-yo effect is to keep eating. Eating a lot all at once doesn't make you gain as much weight as you think. Keep your mouth busy eating continuously. Then you will gain weight."