사진 확대

Mimi (31), who says she eats bread ‘like crazy’; Lim Ji-yeon (36), who can easily finish five packets of ramen when she sets her mind to it; and Heebab (30), a leading big eater in the mukbang world who can devour 25 packets of ramen in one sitting. What is astonishing is that all three maintain slim figures in the 40-kilogram range. The combination seems almost impossible—and unfairly enviable. Watching them tuck into food with such gusto naturally raises a question.Is there really such a thing as a body type that does not gain weight no matter how much someone eats?

A look at the three women's daily lives reveals one unexpected commonality: They move diligently in proportion to how much they eat and have made exercise part of their routines.

Body weight is ultimately affected by the energy consumed and expended over the long term. Moving more increases energy expenditure, but that does not mean that exercising will simply erase everything eaten. In addition to planned workouts, daily activity such as walking, standing and moving throughout the day, along with muscle mass, eating habits, sleep and genetic factors, all influence body weight. We took a closer look at the three women's ‘secrets’ to staying slim.

사진 확대

Recently, Mimi of Oh My Girl opened up about her extraordinary love of bread on the YouTube channel VIVO TV.

She says, “I eat bread like crazy. I eat nothing but bread.” She particularly likes salt bread and maintains a slim figure at 163 cm tall and 47 kg.

When asked about her secret, her answer was surprisingly simple.‘Exercise and activity level’That was her answer. Mimi said she enjoys a variety of workouts, from boxing and ballet to swimming, gym workouts and running, adding, “I work out hard. The answer is to move just as hard.”

사진 확대

She also manages when she eats. She said she cuts back on the amount she eats starting at 3 p.m., stops eating after 6 p.m. and avoids late-night snacks. Rather than completely giving up her favorite bread, she limits other carbohydrates and late-night eating while increasing her activity level. She also said she rarely eats rice.

However, 6 p.m. itself is not a magical cutoff time that causes weight loss. What matters for changes in body weight is the long-term energy balance. Avoiding late-night snacks may help reduce total daily calorie intake, but if someone consumes more calories during the day than they expend, simply finishing dinner early will not make the weight come off automatically.

사진 확대

Actress Lim Ji-yeon is also a well-known big eater in the entertainment industry.

Appearing on the DdeunDdeun YouTube channel's ‘Pinggyego,’ Lim Ji-yeon surprised those around her by saying, “If I set my mind to it, I can eat more than five packets of ramen.” She also made headlines on Sung Si-kyung's YouTube content by showing an astonishing appetite while eating 12 servings of meat with Sung Si-kyung.

Her answer when asked about managing her weight was, once again, ‘exercise.’ Lim Ji-yeon said, “I do eat a lot, but I love exercising so much that I don't seem to gain weight in proportion to what I eat.”

In fact, exercise is an indispensable part of her daily routine. She has said on television, “Since I'll be eating a lot in the evening, I have to run in the morning,” explaining that she regularly stretches and runs on an empty stomach. She also emphasized the importance of exercise, saying, “The more you run, the better your stamina gets.”

사진 확대

Running is not her only activity. She has also consistently done Pilates and weight training, and takes strength training seriously enough to say that she can deadlift up to 80 kg. Lim Ji-yeon, who is 166 cm tall, is reportedly 48 kg.

She has also tried a ketogenic diet, commonly known as a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet, to lose weight. The approach drastically reduces carbohydrate intake while increasing the proportion of fat. Lim Ji-yeon previously said she stopped after just 10 days because she lost too much weight.

However, it would be misguided to copy her eating habits simply because she weighs 48 kg despite eating five packets of ramen. The amount eaten at one time is separate from the total amount consumed over a typical day or week. Body weight is influenced by various factors, including total calorie intake and activity level, as well as muscle mass, sleep and genetic factors.

사진 확대

The ultimate case is ‘professional mukbang creator’ Heebab.

Heebab is known as a big eater who can consume up to 25 packets of ramen in one sitting and easily eat 15 servings of meat. Yet she is 165 cm tall and weighs about 49 kg. She is reportedly said to have maintained this weight for more than a decade. Photos released recently after a workout even revealed clearly defined abdominal muscles.

Her daily routine offers some clues to the secret. Heebab uses interval running as part of her weight-management routine. On a treadmill, she varies her speed, alternating between brisk walking and running. She also jump-ropes and does weight training, and regularly enjoys playing soccer.

Heebab emphasized, “My favorite exercises are ball sports such as soccer and tennis, but going to the gym is really the most convenient. Among them, interval training is the easiest to focus on and do.”

What is even more striking is that she does not limit exercise to dedicated workout sessions. Heebab has described her daily life by saying, “Exercise is part of my daily routine.” She runs to the gym and runs back, and on days when she does not have time to work out, she runs about 5 km to her meeting place.

In other words, she lives a life of ‘eating a lot and moving a lot.’ But does exercising as much as these three women really mean you can eat whatever you want without gaining weight?

사진 확대

The answer is not that simple. Increased physical activity also raises energy expenditure, but the idea that exercising makes everything eaten disappear does not reflect reality.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person weighing about 70 kg burns approximately 295 kcal by running at about 8 km/h for 30 minutes. Someone who weighs less will burn fewer calories doing the same workout. That is why it is difficult to ‘offset’ all the calories in a high-calorie meal with a short workout.

Consider the common trait shared by all three women: They keep moving. The key is non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). This refers to the energy expended through daily activities such as walking, standing, climbing stairs and doing household chores, rather than planned exercise like weight training or running. Even if two people exercise for an hour a day, their total energy expenditure can differ if one spends most of the remaining time sitting while the other walks, stands and moves throughout the day.

Strength training can also affect weight management. Consistently doing weight training, as Lim Ji-yeon does, or combining aerobic and strength exercises, as Heebab does, can help maintain muscle mass. Lean body mass, which includes muscle, is also associated with energy expenditure at rest.

사진 확대

That does not mean, however, that having more muscle allows someone to eat as much high-calorie food as they want. Body weight is influenced by a range of interacting factors, including not only food intake and activity level but also body size, muscle mass, sleep, genetic traits and appetite regulation. This is why the result of weighing 49 kg after eating 25 packets of ramen cannot be isolated and generalized.

The basic amount of physical activity recommended for adults is at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, along with strength training at least twice a week. People seeking to lose weight or maintain weight loss may need more activity, depending on the individual.

Ultimately, the number to focus on is not ‘in the 40-kilogram range despite eating a lot.’ Body weight is only one indicator of health. Rather than copying someone else's food intake and exercise routine or pursuing a number at all costs, it is important to find eating habits and sustainable exercise routines suited to your own body and health.

This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.