Beauty Secrets
Why is Han Ga-in, a mother of two, still slim at 44?
A meal-kit recommendation video actress Han Ga-in posted on her YouTube channel ‘Madame Freedom Han Ga-in’ is attracting attention. The food she praised, saying ‘One container a day is the minimum,’ was none other than gopchang gim, a variety of dried seaweed. As she testified to eating it even during morning sickness and without rice, the product featured in the video also became a talking point.
Seaweed is good for weight control because it is low in calories and rich in nutrients. Its plentiful dietary fibre provides fullness, and it contains iodine, calcium, iron and vitamins A, C and E. Iodine supports thyroid function, while polyphenols and flavonoids are effective against skin aging. It also benefits constipation prevention, blood pressure and cholesterol. Excess iodine can, however, cause thyroid dysfunction, so people with thyroid disease and pregnant women need caution with intake.
Of course, seaweed alone is unlikely to explain how Han Ga-in, a working mother of two in her forties, stays slim. Still, her attention to ingredients and eating habits even when choosing a snack offers a glimpse of her routine. She is also known to consistently manage low blood pressure and body shape through yoga, and to exercise in daily life by taking stairs. Such everyday care is the secret to maintaining a firm figure after two births.
When exercise alone is difficult, Mounjaro is another option
When lifestyle habits alone cannot control weight, a medical approach is needed. Particularly with obesity-related illnesses or difficulty controlling appetite, GLP-1-class obesity medication can be considered after thorough consultation. The most commonly prescribed medicine recently is Mounjaro, whose ingredient is tirzepatide.
Mounjaro is an injection acting on GLP-1 and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptors to suppress appetite, stabilise blood glucose and induce weight loss. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, its effectiveness in obesity management was demonstrated; it has received US FDA approval for an obesity-treatment indication, and its clinical use for obesity is expanding in Korea too.
Mounjaro is not a ‘magic diet drug’, however. Gastrointestinal discomfort such as bloating and nausea is reported relatively often, and underlying illness may limit its use. In particular, a history of gastritis or gastric ulcers, or liver, kidney or thyroid disease, requires assessment before use to determine suitability.
Medication alone also makes sustained weight management difficult. Obesity drugs including Mounjaro reduce intake and suppress appetite, but have limitations in preserving muscle mass or improving body composition. The most ideal results can therefore be expected alongside a balanced diet, aerobic and strength exercise, and, when needed, professionally guided body-contouring treatments or fat-dissolving injections.