Actress Hwang Eun-jung opened up about her own emotional and physical torment after her divorce, making the headlines during the October 8 episode of Channel A's "Star Health Ranking No. 1."
Sports Chosun reported that the episode tackled the concept of "sudden fat" — a common weight gain phenomenon usually felt during holidays such as Chuseok.
The show investigated reasons for such fluctuations and provided professional solutions in the form of a friendly competition among celebrities trying to undergo the healthiest change.
Some of the guests included were comedian Lee Kyung-ae, who weighed 33 kilograms more after giving birth, actor Lee Yoon-sung, who was said to have weighed close to 90 kilograms, and comedian Lee Hee-gu, who blamed weight gain for taking care of her parents.
Hwang Eun-jung opened up about her own experiences being due to emotional trauma following her divorce.
"I ate too much because I was severely depressed after my divorce," she admitted during the show.
Another report from Chosun's entertainment news desk pointed out that the MC of the program Han Da-gam attracted criticism for being flippant during the conversation.
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Having shown sympathy toward the diet difficulties of the participants with the remark, "I think I know why dieting is difficult," fellow guest Lee Hee-gu playfully cut in, "Why are you intervening among us who have diet concerns?"
The light-hearted conversation spiralled out of control when Lee Kyung-ae jokingly said, "don't like Ms. Ga-gam when I see her today," causing light-hearted tension on set as the team light-heartedly bantered about dieting and body image.
After health assessments, professionals determined that Hwang Eun-jung had a "tendency to binge eat whenever angry," which is a symptom of emotional eating associated with depression and stress.
Conversely, Dr. Kim Se-wan, who examined Lee Kyung-ae, commented, "I don't know why she's gaining weight," injecting humor into the feature.
Health experts such as oriental medicine doctor Yang Won-sik and pharmacist Yoo Seul-ah appeared in the episode to explain methods of preventing "yo-yo" weight fluctuation. They provided useful tips on nutrition and metabolism control, stressing the need for early intervention.
Star Health Ranking No. 1 remains popular for its mix of honest celebrity admissions and expert advice on wellness.
Last week's episode highlighted the impact emotional well-being, even depression after divorce, can have on physical health — and fueled debate over Han Da-gam's comments.
The show is broadcast every Tuesday at 8:10 p.m. on Channel A.
READ MORE: Actress Hwang Eun Jung Talks About Her Divorce at MBN's Dong Chi Mi, Netizens in Divided Opinions
