However, the ambition of some companies is too great, affecting the health of trainees. According to the Koreaboo , the idols below have revealed the truth about the harsh weight loss method they endured in order to have a chance to debut. 1. Eat controlled foods In the Ask Me Anything thread above Reddit , a former SM Entertainment trainee said the company never forced anyone to lose weight. However, she revealed that she has a very strict diet and all the trainees voluntarily follow it to increase their chances of debuting. The company sent controlled food portions to the trainees every day leaving them with no freedom to choose their meals. No desserts or snacks are offered. According to the trainee, she was advised by the company staff to lose weight to look taller and not consult a doctor or nutritionist about the diet. Seulgi (Red Velvet) once revealed that SM forbade her from eating fried chicken. Photo: Koreaboo, Reddit. 2. Run laps Two former trainees appeared on the channel AYO last year revealed the truth about this industry. Choi Ye Jin said she could not follow the strict diet that the company imposed to protect her health. After losing control of her eating, Ye Jin received a request to perform a weight check. Because her body weight was not within the allowable limit, the female trainee had to take the penalty of running 9 laps around the building. According to a former trainee, the ideal body shape is your height minus 120 to get the right weight. For example, a girl with a height of 1.61 m can only weigh 41 kg. The way to calculate the weight of entertainment companies in kimchi is BMI standard deviation. Photo: Koreaboo. 3. Food rations In the interview with BBC , Euodias – former trainee – revealed that people have to divide food portions to lose weight. Euodias explained that her company requires interns not to weigh more than 47 kg, regardless of age or height. According to BMI, anyone over 1.60 m tall would be considered undernourished at 47 kg. To force interns to keep their weight low, Euodias said the company will split food rations for anyone over 47 kg. They even took away the meal completely and those with substandard weight only drank water. After that, the interns often help others return to the dorms when they pass out due to lack of nutrition. The strict diet and water only if over 47 kg caused some trainees to fall unconscious. Photo: @euo.coeur. 4. Termination of the contract At some companies, severe penalties are imposed to keep trainees from gaining weight including threatening to terminate their contracts. Last year, former FNC Entertainment trainee – Cho Ah Young – appeared in the audition program CAP-TEEN of the Mnet . The female idol said that she was eliminated at the last minute for her debut with the group Cherry Bullet because of weight gain. Cho Ah Young shared that she started eating due to stress and after gaining weight, she felt disgusted with herself. Cho Ah Young could have debuted if her weight hadn’t exceeded the limit. Photo: Koreaboo. 5. Injection and electric shock In the interview with B uzzFeed News , Candidates Produce 101 – Kathy Lee – revealed that she was once tricked into taking weight loss pills at the age of 14 after the company took her to a hospital specializing in weight loss. However, that was not the harshest method she had to apply. After taking weight loss pills, Kathy Lee underwent carboxy therapy that included injecting carbon dioxide gas into the body to break down and filter fat, making it easier to lose weight. Next, she received electroconvulsive weight loss therapy. She said: “An electric current around the needle and creating a feeling of numbness.” Kathy Lee (blonde) has to go through many harsh weight loss processes. Photo: Koreaboo. Exercises to keep beautiful Korean female singers Solar (Mamamoo) practices Tabata to have a slim and healthy body.

When the reporter talked about the weight pressure at entertainment companies, Kathy said: “We have to measure the weight in front of a lot of male and female trainees and teachers. It’s really embarrassing.” She added that in order to lose weight to the lowest possible level, the trainees only wore tank tops and shorts. Kathy (blond) has to go through a severe weight loss process to have a slim body. Photo: Produce 101. On the first measurement, Kathy was said to be “overweight”. This means she has to go through a very severe weight loss process. At that time, Kathy only cared about the number on the scale but forgot her health. At times, she didn’t even eat anything but a small amount of chocolate. Kathy also often visits weight loss centers. Here, the trainee gets an injection. It was introduced to reduce appetite and boost metabolism. In addition, Kathy has also used carboxytherapy. This is a small procedure that involves pumping carbon dioxide gas into the body to break down and filter fat, making it easier to lose weight. “There’s one more method, but I don’t remember the name. They use electricity and needles and electrocute you,” she recalls. Meals of Produce 101 contestants. Photo: Mnet. Despite losing weight, Kathy said her health affected a lot. She felt tired and often dizzy. After that, in order to maintain her weight, Kathy continued to adhere to a strict diet. She eats yogurt for breakfast. Lunch includes cucumbers and tomatoes, sometimes with extra boiled eggs. During dinner, the former trainee ate a boiled egg with sweet potatoes.