Eom Jung-hwa says one meal a day brought her to 52 kg — but experts urge caution

Singer and actor Eom Jung-hwa said she has been consistently following a one-meal-a-day regimen, exercising regularly and receiving dermatological treatments. While weight loss becomes harder and skin elasticity declines more noticeably with age, experts say the quality of meals, strength training and careful selection of procedures matter more than extreme caloric restriction.

On Friday, Eom posted a video to her YouTube channel "Umaizing Eom Jung-hwa TV" explaining her wellness routine. She said she tries to work out every other day, consistently doing Pilates and weight training.

She has also overhauled her diet. "My baseline weight used to be 56 kg, and no matter how much I dieted I couldn't get below 54 kg," she said. "So starting last year I made up my mind and began eating just one meal a day." She said she dropped to 52 kg as a result, adding that she cut back on carbohydrates and sugar and stopped thinking about late-night snacks altogether.

Eating one meal a day is not a diet that suits everyone. Broadly speaking, it can be seen as a form of intermittent fasting that restricts the window in which a person eats, though most research on the approach focuses on time-restricted eating — consuming two to three meals within roughly an eight-hour window. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health notes that eating within a set window and fasting for at least 16 hours may help with weight loss and improve cardiometabolic markers such as blood sugar and blood pressure.

The key, however, is not the format of eating just one meal but the total daily intake and nutritional balance. If a single meal does not include sufficient protein, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, weight may fall but the risks of muscle loss, fatigue and binge eating can rise. Preserving muscle mass is particularly important after middle age, both for body composition and metabolic health.

Cutting carbohydrates and sugar does not have to mean eliminating carbohydrates entirely. For weight management, reducing refined carbohydrates and added sugars — found in white bread, crackers, sugary drinks and desserts — is beneficial. The American Heart Association recommends that most women limit added sugar to no more than 100 calories, or about six teaspoons, per day.

By contrast, fiber-rich carbohydrates such as brown rice, oats, sweet potatoes and whole-grain bread can help sustain energy during exercise and maintain a sense of fullness. Anyone combining Pilates with weight training needs adequate carbohydrates as well as protein; cutting carbohydrates too sharply can impair exercise performance and increase fatigue.

Cutting out late-night snacks is a practical strategy for weight management. Activity levels drop in the late evening, and nighttime eating tends to lead to greasy, salty foods or desserts. Reducing the habit of eating late at night makes it easier to manage total daily caloric intake and can also improve sleep quality.

The pace of weight loss also matters. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that people who lose weight slowly — roughly 0.45 to 0.9 kg per week — are more likely to keep it off than those who lose it quickly. After middle age, it is better to monitor muscle mass and overall condition rather than simply pushing the number on the scale lower.

The Pilates and weight training Eom combines are particularly important for body management after middle age. Pilates supports breathing, core stability and postural alignment, while weight training directly contributes to maintaining muscle mass and building baseline fitness. The World Health Organization recommends that adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, along with muscle-strengthening exercises targeting major muscle groups at least twice a week.

Body changes after middle age are not simply a matter of gaining weight. As muscle mass decreases and fat distribution shifts, the body's shape can change even when weight stays the same. For this reason, maintaining large muscle groups — in the thighs, glutes, back and abdomen — through strength training matters more than simply eating less.

Pilates has advantages for posture and core stability, but progressively increasing resistance through weight training may also be needed to build sufficient muscle mass. Repeating compound movements that engage large muscles — squats, hip hinges, rows, lat pulldowns and push-ups — at a level suited to one's fitness can support body stability and metabolic health.

Alongside exercise, Eom also mentioned dermatological procedures as part of her routine. "Seeing a dermatologist is essential," she said, noting she has managed her skin since she was young. She said she now receives Ultherapy about twice a year and also undergoes collagen-boosting tightening treatments and Emface, which she described as lifting the facial muscles.

"Ultherapy" is commonly used as a shorthand for combining Ulthera, an ultrasound lifting procedure, with Thermage, a radiofrequency tightening treatment. Ulthera is a non-invasive procedure that uses ultrasound energy for skin lifting of the brow, neck and under the chin, as well as improvement of décolletage lines. Official Ulthera materials state that the device has received FDA clearance for those indications.

Thermage delivers radiofrequency energy deep into skin tissue to heat it and stimulate collagen regeneration. Official Thermage materials describe Thermage FLX as an electrosurgical device that uses radiofrequency energy to non-invasively treat wrinkles around the eyes and on the face.

Emface is described as a non-invasive facial procedure combining radiofrequency with facial muscle stimulation technology. Related research indicates that the radiofrequency component targets collagen remodeling and skin tightening, while high-intensity facial muscle stimulation aims to improve muscle tone. The scale of studies and long-term effects, however, remain areas requiring further confirmation.

Energy-based procedures like these carry the advantage of less recovery burden than surgical procedures, but their effects should not be overstated. Official Ulthera materials note that ultrasound lifting does not produce the same results as a surgical facelift. Outcomes can vary depending on the degree of skin laxity, age, skin thickness, fat volume and treatment intensity.

There are also cautions to keep in mind. Because radiofrequency and ultrasound energy procedures use heat, side effects — including pain, swelling, bruising, burns, pigmentation changes, fat atrophy and nerve damage — can occur, albeit rarely. The US Food and Drug Administration has warned that serious adverse events, including burns, scarring, fat loss, deformity and nerve damage, have been reported in connection with certain radiofrequency microneedling procedures.

Decisions about dermatological procedures should therefore not be based solely on trends or celebrity examples. Patients should consult thoroughly about their own skin condition, expected outcomes and the possibility of side effects before proceeding. The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends that anyone considering a cosmetic procedure discuss their goals, treatment options and expected results with a specialist.

Eom's approach combines regulated meal timing, reduced refined carbohydrates, sugar and late-night eating, regular Pilates and weight training, and selective use of dermatological procedures. What matters most is not copying any one person's method exactly, but finding a sustainable routine suited to one's own health condition and lifestyle.