52-year-old woman struggles with accelerated aging and extreme dieting cycles

Mi-suk, a 52-year-old woman with a physical age of 70, faces a vicious cycle of binge eating and extreme water-only fasting. Her struggle with obesity has led to severe health issues, including blood glucose levels above 400 and blood pressure reaching 230.

The daily life of Mi-suk, a 52-year-old woman experiencing a physical age of 70, is caught in a vicious cycle of recurring pain, hunger, and self-reproach. A video reported by TV CHOSUN LIFE captures the struggle of one woman, showing how obesity that began after childbirth has led to systemic diseases and accelerated aging.

Physical pain caused by extreme water-only dieting

Mi-suk recently attempted jump rope to lose weight, but her body is so heavy that she struggles to complete even three jumps. Although she does not want to stop her efforts to lose weight, her physical condition does not cooperate. In particular, when she attempts to exercise, she experiences sharp pain in the soles of her feet, forcing her to stop; this is due to peripheral neuropathy caused by severe diabetes.

Her health indicators have already reached dangerous levels. While she maintained a weight in the 60kg range during her 20s, her weight exceeded 80kg upon entering her 40s. This process was accompanied by diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Her blood glucose levels soared above 400, blood pressure reached as high as 230, and cholesterol levels exceeded 300. Her glycated hemoglobin level was recorded at 9.8 or higher, significantly deviating from the normal range (5%), creating a serious situation where she must take daily insulin injections.

Her craving for weight loss led to extreme choices. Believing that drinking plenty of water would lead to weight loss, Mi-suk engaged in fasting, consuming nothing but water all day. While performing housework on an empty stomach, she experienced dizziness, headaches, and rising blood pressure. To manage her pain, she must take daily medications for blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and peripheral nerves.

Uncontrollable hunger leads to binge eating and the 'yo-yo cycle'

Mi-suk's patience, while enduring fasting all day, collapsed during dinner time. The menu she ate with her husband was greasy Chinese cuisine. Jjamppong, which is rich in carbohydrates and fats, was her "soul food," and because she had fasted all day, it ultimately led to binge eating, including mixing rice into the meal. After eating, Mi-suk expressed self-reproach, saying, "I failed again today."

This binge eating is a pattern that has repeated in the past. Mi-suk has tried every diet imaginable, including drugs, herbal medicine, and injections, but she has experienced a vicious cycle where her body deteriorates further as she binge eats whenever the yo-yo effect occurs. The clothes she had kept to wear again in the past no longer fit her body, to the point where she cannot even close the zippers.

The danger of obesity-induced accelerated aging and dietary habits

Obesity is a core cause of "accelerated aging," which hastens physical aging. Fat accumulated in the body acts as an inflammatory substance, which can cause vascular diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as myocardial infarction and stroke. It can also be a cause of various cancers, such as kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer. In particular, women in their 40s and 50s are prone to obesity due to a decline in fat metabolism caused by hormonal changes, and once weight is gained, it is characterized by being difficult to lose.

Eating patterns also have a decisive impact on the speed of aging. According to a study in Japan, unlike those who consume a balanced diet focused on protein and unsaturated fatty acids, consuming a diet high in fats and sugars was found to make one's appearance look significantly older. Koreans tend to prefer foods high in saturated fats, such as bulgogi, japchae, samgyeopsal, and tteokbokki; indeed, the saturated fat intake rate of Koreans has risen by 30% over the recent seven years. These dietary habits are identified as major factors fueling accelerated aging.

Source: TVCHOSUN JOY (YouTube)