Wendy, a member of the K-pop group Red Velvet, recently opened up about the emotional and physical toll of her childhood years in Canada, revealing that she gained 15kg while struggling to cope with racial discrimination.
Appearing on the YouTube channel ‘Go Eun Unni Han Go Eun’, Wendy discussed her study abroad experience with actress Han Go Eun. Having moved to Canada in the fifth grade, Wendy admitted that the transition was fraught with difficulty. "I couldn’t understand anything because I didn’t know any English," she recalled, describing an initial period of intense isolation.
Even as her language skills improved, the social environment remained hostile. Wendy described attending a high-achieving Catholic school where she felt fundamentally excluded. "The kids were really snobby," she said. "Because of the racial mix, I couldn't fit in, and that’s when the discrimination started. I ended up eating my meals in the bathroom."
The singer detailed instances of blatant rejection from her peers. When she asked to join group activities or play soccer, she was told, "You can’t because you’re Korean." When she sought help from faculty, she claims the response was dismissive, with one teacher simply telling the students to "go outside and talk."
To cope with the stress of being ostracized, Wendy turned to food. "I ate like crazy back then, and I gained over 10kg in a single year," she shared. The eventual 15kg weight gain from binge eating made her nearly unrecognizable; she noted that when her mother and sister met her at the airport, they did not initially realize who she was.
The Lasting Physical and Mental Scars of Discrimination
Wendy’s experience highlights how repeated racial discrimination can severely impact both mental and physical health. Victims of racist remarks and social exclusion often suffer from deep emotional wounds that can manifest as physiological symptoms.
Research suggests that even the anticipation of harm can be taxing. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, reports indicated that Asian individuals in the U.S. experienced increased heart rates, rapid breathing, and elevated blood pressure simply while navigating public spaces. Chronic stress of this nature is linked to heightened anxiety, depression, insomnia, and cardiovascular issues. According to a meta-analysis in the Journal of Counseling Psychology, those who experience racial discrimination consistently report a significant decline in their overall quality of life.
Breaking the Cycle of Stress-Induced Binge Eating
While turning to food is a common response to trauma, experts warn that relieving stress through binge eating can create a self-perpetuating cycle: the stress of weight gain eventually triggers further episodes of overeating.
One effective method for managing these impulses is keeping a food diary. By recording the timing, emotional triggers, and types of food consumed, individuals can identify patterns of disordered eating. This self-awareness is the first step toward reclaiming a healthy relationship with food.
Nutritionists also recommend replacing high-calorie "comfort foods" with nutrient-dense alternatives like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. For those craving specific items like pizza, choosing options with more vegetables and less processed meat can satisfy the craving without the health drawbacks. Additionally, mindfulness and meditation can be powerful tools; by sitting in a quiet space and focusing on breathing, individuals can often calm the emotional distress that leads to stress-eating before it begins.
