MAMAMOO’s Hwasa reveals she quit oily food for her comeback

Hwasa / Captured from Hwasa's social media

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MAMAMOO’s Hwasa has returned looking noticeably slimmer — and fans are eager to know her secret. The 30-year-old singer revealed she shed enough weight to reach the 40-kilogram range as part of preparing for her new single, “Good Goodbye.”

Hwasa recently appeared on fellow MAMAMOO member Moonbyul’s YouTube channel, where the two discussed their fitness routines. Moonbyul said, “After taking a break, I started gaining weight — eating more, moving less, not dancing — and I ended up over 50 kilograms.” When she added that she was now managing her weight around 45 kilograms, Hwasa laughed and said, “You’re not that different from me,” hinting that she too had slimmed down to the mid-40-kilogram range.

Known for her energetic stage presence and strong, healthy physique, Hwasa surprised fans by reappearing with a much leaner frame, cropped bob hairstyle and visible collarbones. She explained that her transformation was driven by artistic intent rather than external pressure.

“My stage performances are intense — I go full-out from the first song to the last,” Hwasa said. “It’s hard to handle that with a thin body. I used to feel better with some muscle and weight. But my new song is delicate and emotional, so I wanted to reflect that feeling through my body — like how people lose weight when they’re emotionally drained.”

Hwasa, who once struggled with depression due to weight-loss pressure during her trainee years, now says she approaches fitness on her own terms, adjusting her body for the sake of artistic expression rather than to meet industry expectations.

Hwasa / Captured from MBC

In a previous appearance on comedian Park Na-rae’s YouTube channel, Hwasa said she had “cut out oily foods.” For a star who rose to fame after devouring grilled beef intestines on “I Live Alone,” earning her the nickname “mukbang goddess,” it was a drastic decision. She also incorporated personal training to tone her slimmer frame.

Experts say oily foods are among the biggest obstacles to healthy dieting. High-fat foods such as fried chicken, donuts and fries contain about 9 kilocalories per gram — more than double the calories of protein or carbohydrates — and can easily exceed half of a day’s recommended intake in one meal. Overconsumption of these foods is linked to visceral fat buildup, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.

However, not all fats are bad. Nutritionists emphasize that healthy fats are essential for cell structure, hormone production and vitamin absorption. Incorporating moderate amounts of unsaturated fats — like those found in olive oil, salmon, avocados and nuts — can actually aid weight control by stabilizing blood sugar and promoting fullness.

To reduce excess fat intake while dieting, experts recommend removing visible fat and skin from meat, steaming or grilling instead of deep-frying foods, and applying only a thin coating of flour to minimize oil absorption during cooking.

In Hwasa’s case, eliminating oily food while maintaining a balanced diet helped her achieve a delicate yet healthy appearance that matches the soft tone of “Good Goodbye.” Her approach shows that even a K-pop powerhouse known for bold performances can redefine beauty and health on her own terms.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.