Idols are athletes and until companies treat them like it, we'll keep having the "why are they so skinny now" conversation

Ok first just to let you know this is going to be a rant because I am so heated rn just thinking about this topic.

I just watched a YouTube Short about "what's happening to NMIXX." [Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/ZPkFyjXqZMI?si=jK9OqMvldGD0q5MR ] It showed before and after clips of Bae, Sullyoon, Haewon, and Jiwoo and how much weight they've lost. The caption said "they used to be the healthiest girl group." Honestly? I agree. It upset me enough to make my first Reddit post because it genuinely hurts my heart to see them like this.

(Note: I'm a girl group stan, so that's where my examples come from, but I know this happens in boy groups too.)

Point 1. Idols are athletes whether you believe it or not

First their job requires them to be in peak physical and mental condition all the time to avoid injury, exhaustion, and burnout. It's physical work, every day. Last time I checked, that's the definition of an athlete. So why aren't dancers considered athletes deadass.

And not to mention idols don't just dance. They sing while they dance. Vocal folds are muscle, and like any muscle they need rest. Overuse them and you get hoarseness and swelling, and eventually damage like nodules that can take months to heal (im a pre-med student 😭).

Pro athletes get nutritionists whose job is to keep them fueled, sports psychologists, recovery built into their schedules, and an actual off-season. Idols need the same: a nutritionist who cares about their health instead of their weight, someone who helps them manage stress, and a schedule with real rest in it.

Point 2. If you haven't noticed there is no off-season in K-pop.

Promotions come in waves, so people assume there's downtime in between. There isn't.

For example, Lia from ITZY posted a video of the members surprising Lia with a birthday cake at dance practice. Her birthday is in July. They were practicing "Tunnel Vision," which didn't come out until November 10, 2025. The song was finished and they were drilling choreo four months ahead. That same year they also released Girls Will Be Girls and a Japanese full album, Collector. [Link: https://youtu.be/n5WXEaniX4o?si=L16M4q4TUfkIarq0&t=9 ]

Most groups do about two comebacks a year. Line up the timelines and you'll see that prep for the next one overlaps with promo for the last one. It never stops.

Not to mention how grueling promotion week(s) is.

Point 3. If you really look deep into it the weight loss really shouldn't surprise anyone

Everyone's shocked that idols keep losing weight. These girls dance for what's basically a full workday, on top of everything else. When would they even have time to eat enough to keep up with that genuienly? I'd be more worried if they weren't losing weight thats how crazy it is.

Recovery comes down to basics: eating enough, and eating well, sleeping enougH, getting GENUINE downtime, and actually having support for your mental health

I'd bet most idols are missing several of those if not fucking all of them.

That's not how any human being should live let alone one that is an ATHLETE.

Point 4. Business wise, this shit doesn't even make sense

NMIXX became one of the best girl groups of this generation, arguably ever, while being known as one of the healthiest. They have some of the best vocalists and dancers in the industry, and they're a group that's genuinely close and looks out for each other. Being thinner didn't make them better. They were already that good.

Sick, injured, burnt-out idols mean canceled shows, hiatuses, and shorter careers. Healthy idols perform better and last longer. And here my dumbass thought companies would care about that if LITERALLY anything else.

But at the end of the day it will never fucking change because the companies are too selfish and evil to give a shit about the people under their contracts.

Questions: Do y'all think treating idols like athletes actually fix this? Has any company handled it well? I genuinely want to hear what you all think because I actually got emotional thinking about this shit because I realized its happening everywhere across THE WORLD.