Emaciated Bodies and Eating Disorder Fears

There have been alerts that positive terms for slim body types, such as "bone arms" and "bone dry," which are trending on social networking services (SNS), may contribute to the development of eating disorders.

On the 31st, the Korea Health Promotion Development Institute highlighted the importance of increasing awareness about health risk information, noting that distorted body images promoting extremely thin body types, such as 'bone arms,' are becoming prevalent on social media during the summer.

As per the institute, "bone arm" refers to a term describing an extremely thin arm with a visible bone structure, considered an ideal physique. It is examined as a misrepresentative body image that takes an abnormal weight level as a benchmark for attractiveness.

In reality, several posts are circulating on social media platforms that portray the slim physique of celebrities (such as idols and influencers) as the standard of beauty, while certain medical facilities are advertising treatments like lipolysis and liposuction, using terms like 'bone arms' and 'bone dry' as marketing strategies.

The institution noted that this trend may result in 'Pro-Ana' or eating disorders that promote severe weight loss, which can significantly impact both mental and physical health. 'Proana' is a term combining the English prefix 'Pro-', meaning 'for,' with the start of 'Anorexia,' referring to anorexia, which means inducing anorexia or viewing it as an ideal state and supporting it. According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of individuals diagnosed with eating disorders rose by approximately 39%, from 9,474 in 2020 to 13,129 in 2023.

Professor Moon Jong-yoon from the preventive medicine department at Gachon University stated, "Significantly low body weight, which has recently gained popularity, may result in physical illnesses such as irregular menstrual cycles, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Furthermore, it can lead to mental health issues like eating disorders caused by an obsession with unrealistic body standards, and in severe cases, it may even be fatal, highlighting the need for special attention." Specifically, teenagers are particularly vulnerable to distorted body image ideals within their peer groups and on social media, which can cause significant health complications over time as they attempt to lose weight excessively.

Development Director Kim Heon-ju noted that unhealthy body perceptions, such as "bone arms," pose risks to public health and represent significant societal issues that particularly harm teenagers and women, and therefore should not be considered just passing trends.

In the meantime, the institute recommends ▲ consuming meals at a consistent time each day, ▲ avoiding other activities during eating, ▲ engaging in regular physical exercise, and ▲ tracking daily food consumption and exercise levels to maintain an appropriate weight.

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