It’s not breaking news that there’s added pressure in Asia to be thin. I think many of us women, even those who are slender by American standards, have felt “big” while traveling to Korea or other Asian countries. But this article on extreme dieting is still shocking to me. The lengths people go to be skinny—the magic number is to be below 100 pounds, no matter your height or your weight—are just outrageous. The newest dieting fad in Hong Kong is swallowing parasites. Shiver. (The Hong Kong Health Department issued a warning that these worms, sold on Chinese websites, can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and even death.) Women don’t want to lose weight by exercising because muscles are not considered a feminine feature. And, of course, they can’t be larger than men, who are typically small in Asia.
What are your experiences with weight in Asia?
