Dieting Smartly... How Does the MZ Generation Lose Weight?

MZ Generation Highly Interested in Health
Prefers 'Low-Calorie' Foods Over 'Fasting'
Benefits for 'Weight Management' but Also Need to Take Vitamins and Minerals

The number of MZ generation individuals managing their diets with low-calorie foods is increasing. Photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] #. College student A (21) started dieting ahead of a trip to Cebu. A said, "I bought a swimsuit because I planned to go to the pool," adding, "I’m going to post travel photos on Instagram, so I thought it would be best to reduce any excess fat as much as possible, so I started exercising and managing my diet simultaneously." He stated, "For short-term weight loss, diet is more effective than exercise," and explained, "I’m doing a diet where I don’t starve by eating low-calorie foods such as diet lunch boxes or meal replacements."

As the summer vacation season begins in earnest, more people are making plans for travel and other activities. Expectations are high as this is the first vacation after the end of strict quarantine policies. Many accommodations are already fully booked. According to the industry, hotels and pensions along the East Coast of Gyeongbuk, which cost 300,000 to 400,000 KRW per day, are fully booked from late July to early August.

Swimsuit sales have also surged. According to Musinsa on the 16th, swimsuit transaction volume at Musinsa Store in June increased by about 180% compared to the same period last month. Swimsuit transaction volumes on StyleShare and 29CM (from June 1 to 14) also surged by 430% and 148%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

Many people have started dieting as they wear more revealing clothes like swimsuits. However, rather than starving themselves excessively or relying on diet pills, there is a growing preference for healthy dieting. The health-conscious MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) manages their diet with low-calorie foods that maintain taste while reducing calories.

Choi (25), a job seeker who identifies as a lifelong dieter, said, "While qualifications are important, a likable appearance seems to also affect employment." He added, "I once tried an extreme diet by starving myself, but I lost a lot of hair and developed orthostatic hypotension. When my health deteriorated, I had no choice but to return to a normal diet, but I experienced yo-yo effects and my weight rapidly increased."

Choi continued, "Now I don’t starve myself. I make sure to eat at least two meals and snacks. I replace high-calorie carbohydrates like rice with konjac rice or cauliflower, and for snacks, I look for foods high in protein." Rather than harming health by starving, the key to the MZ generation’s diet method is to eat proper meals while controlling calories with substitute ingredients.

Companies are also releasing low-calorie products targeting 'Healthy Pleasure'?enjoying health management. Recently, Dongwon Home Food launched a low-calorie seasoned chicken sauce with 30 kcal per 100g. It uses allulose, a natural sweetener, instead of sugar, lowering both calories and sugar content. Seven Eleven introduced a low-calorie protein fish cake bar. This fish cake bar uses pollock surimi with shrimp and cheese, and is gluten-free without added flour, making it easy to digest.

Professor Kwon Oh-ran of Ewha Womans University’s Department of Food and Nutrition said, "Low-calorie foods can be a good alternative for those who want to prevent obesity and lose weight," but cautioned, "However, consuming only low-calorie foods to lose weight excessively below average body weight can be problematic."

Professor Kwon added, "It is okay to consume low-calorie foods, but if you reduce the amount of food itself for rapid weight control, you may lack essential vitamins and minerals. You should eat low-calorie foods but also pay attention to the intake of other nutrients."