highlights (or low-lights, really):
“The magic number is to be below 100 pounds, no matter your height or your weight,” says Philippa Yu, a clinical psychologist at the Hong Kong Eating Disorders Association.
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The newest dieting fad in Hong Kong? Swallowing parasites. This radical form of weight loss has become popular enough that the Hong Kong Health Department issued a warning in February that these worms — which are sold on Chinese websites — can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and even death.
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Eating disorders also are becoming more common in Korea, but many women don’t want to admit they have a problem, says Mirihae Kim, a psychology professor at Duksung Women’s University in Seoul.
“The last time I tried to run an eating disorder group, only one person showed up,” Kim says. “So I changed the group’s name to Overeaters Group Therapy.”
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During the treatments, “we don’t recommend exercise because it’ll turn into muscle,” says manager Xu Wenli, whose clients include brides-to-be who are eager to fit into their wedding dresses. “After you lose a certain amount of weight, then you can exercise.
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“Dieting is a life-long career for women,” Yau says. “It’s true for women everywhere, but especially in Hong Kong.”
