The Cost of Perfection: Investigating Toxic Diet Culture in South Korea
By: Eunice of KIS
SDGs: Good health and well being, Gender equality, Reduced inequalities
What is Toxic Diet Culture?
Over the past year, my project has focused on toxic diet culture in South Korea and how unrealistic beauty standards affect physical and mental well-being. This issue connects to UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 5 (Gender Equality), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
My research found that South Korean beauty standards often promote extremely thin body types and specific appearance ideals. Reinforced by K-pop idols, social media, and the beauty industry, these standards can lead to body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, anxiety, and unhealthy dieting behaviors. I found that crash diets, restrictive eating, and constant comparison can contribute to eating disorders, depression, and long-term health consequences.
My Action Steps
To better understand the issue, I investigated how K-pop idols, social media, and cultural expectations influence dieting and body image. I discovered that beauty standards are often treated as social expectations, causing many people to feel pressure to change their appearance to gain acceptance or success.
To address this problem, I designed a digital platform that educates users about toxic diet trends, explains their risks, and suggests healthier alternatives. I also researched existing diet apps to identify useful features and areas for improvement.
In addition, I created a series of AI-generated educational videos using fruit characters to explore body image and appearance pressure through storytelling. By sharing these videos online, I reached a wider audience and gained approximately 30,000 total views. The videos helped raise awareness about toxic diet culture and showed how digital media can be used for advocacy and education.
What's Next?
Moving forward, I hope to continue developing the platform, gather feedback from students, and create more educational resources for younger audiences. I would also like to expand awareness efforts through social media campaigns, workshops, and school partnerships. My goal is to help young people make healthier decisions while challenging harmful beauty standards and diet culture.
Over the past year, my project has focused on toxic diet culture in South Korea and how unrealistic beauty standards affect physical and mental well-being. This issue connects to UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 5 (Gender Equality), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
My research found that South Korean beauty standards often promote extremely thin body types and specific appearance ideals. Reinforced by K-pop idols, social media, and the beauty industry, these standards can lead to body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, anxiety, and unhealthy dieting behaviors. I found that crash diets, restrictive eating, and constant comparison can contribute to eating disorders, depression, and long-term health consequences.
My Action Steps
To better understand the issue, I investigated how K-pop idols, social media, and cultural expectations influence dieting and body image. I discovered that beauty standards are often treated as social expectations, causing many people to feel pressure to change their appearance to gain acceptance or success.
To address this problem, I designed a digital platform that educates users about toxic diet trends, explains their risks, and suggests healthier alternatives. I also researched existing diet apps to identify useful features and areas for improvement.
In addition, I created a series of AI-generated educational videos using fruit characters to explore body image and appearance pressure through storytelling. By sharing these videos online, I reached a wider audience and gained approximately 30,000 total views. The videos helped raise awareness about toxic diet culture and showed how digital media can be used for advocacy and education.
What's Next?
Moving forward, I hope to continue developing the platform, gather feedback from students, and create more educational resources for younger audiences. I would also like to expand awareness efforts through social media campaigns, workshops, and school partnerships. My goal is to help young people make healthier decisions while challenging harmful beauty standards and diet culture.