i think that's bc a majority of bls are korean or set in korea and the authors themselves are korean and in south korea the beauty standards are insane and the way they promote eating disorders so casually is kinda crazy over there tbh.
a friend i know lived there for a while they said the food culture is crazy everything has the calories written on it and you're constantly seeing diet ads everywhere and that's also a huge topic when you meet people it's so normal to start talking about each other's bodies and pointing out body shape, weight, color, etc.... so that's probably why the authors generally make the characters so thin and promote that type of lifestyle, bc it's so common and encouraged over there
this might be triggering?
because, and this is going to sound disgusting because it is, you can be too thin and hot but you can't be too fat and hot. to these people fatness and attractiveness are exclusive characteristics. which is why they need you to know that their characters aren't like those ugly fatsos who gorge themselves on thousands of of calories daily, they starve themselves and they are beautiful *because* of it. a very thin malnourished body is still beautiful, a very heavy malnourished one isn't. it's no coincidence that a lot of these korean manhwas with the same cliche art style came out after kpop blew up in the west and in korea as well. it's because kpop idols have been a huge part in promoting starving yourself for days on end to lose weight and look beautiful idea, though obviously the thinness = beauty idea has existed in EA before kpop. this is why i avoid reading stories set in modern world, or at least set in uni. they tend to have a lot of problematic elements to them.
diet culture is unfortunately very normalized in korea. im sure that 99% of people i know don't even know that 거식증 (anorexia, or eating disorder because it's barely specified here) is an actual disease. the word isn't used often nor diagnosed properly. as students and adults, overwork and skipping meals are normalized and not seen as a problem even if it is for weight loss purposes^^ for koreans, it really means 'this person is hard working while also thin,' which is the virtue. i don't think authors means to promote eating disorders, but are trying to frame a character in an earnest way( ̄へ ̄)
you're so true and idk if the triggering comment was to me or you but wheeoososp
honestly i get why i see so many because i primarillyy read korean stories, and you are so right, if its a historical or mafia or any other type of story that isn't uni or schoollife typically has less problems in its undertones
has anyone ever thought abt like why so many bls promote unhealthy eating? or eds in general? how they always say how the uke "doesnt eat anything" or "only drinks coffee". by putting this kind of display of eating habits on the internet and spreading it to more people it influences and reflects on people. im reading sketch right now and he says "his stomach is so flat, ive only seen him drink coffee or water" and it js makes you pause cus why are authors promoting anorexia and not saying "he eats regularly and he works out" ?? its not that simple to add that they go to the gym. you dont need to say they don't eat because even if they did its not that simple and you dont always lose weight from not eating. i wanna be able to read a webtoon where the characters actually eat properly and the author doesnt write them as meek characters who starve all the time. i understand if they cant afford food and stuff, but if they can then theres no excuse. unless theres a clear point that implies "this character is anorexic" it just seems normal. sure, i enjoy the trope of other characters feeding them and being like "you hardly eat so heres this big ass platter of food" but the only reason i enjoy it is cus we're all so desensitized to people not eating and and only drinking liquids.
its not like authors can see this but if they do hashtag storrppp