aespa member Giselle, 25, has opened up to fans regarding her recent weight loss and overall health.
On June 6, Giselle connected with fans on social media to address the intense public scrutiny surrounding her appearance. "I know people talk a lot about how I look," she acknowledged, adding that weight fluctuations are a natural occurrence over time. "Over the course of seven years, I have lost about 10 kilograms."
She then shared the underlying reasons for her changing frame. "I’ve gotten older, and because I experience ADHD symptoms, I don’t really feel hungry," she explained.
Giselle also admitted to the physical toll the weight loss has taken on her stamina. "After losing the weight, I feel like I completely lack energy. Because of that, I am actively trying to gain weight," she said. Fans have voiced growing concern after she recently appeared onstage with an exceptionally thin frame and seemed to struggle during demanding choreography sequences. Giselle’s comments appeared to echo those worries. Meanwhile, her group, aespa, released its second full-length album, Lemonade, on May 29 and has been actively promoting the release.
Clinical Manifestations of ADHD in Adulthood
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not exclusive to childhood, as a substantial number of patients continue to experience symptoms well into adulthood. Common manifestations of adult ADHD include diminished concentration, frequent carelessness, difficulty managing plans and schedules, impulsive behavior, and restlessness. While childhood hyperactivity often decreases with age, inattention and impaired executive function frequently persist into adulthood.
Distorted Interoception and the Blunting of Hunger Cues
Some individuals with ADHD are known to have reduced interoception—the nervous system's ability to perceive the body’s internal physiological state. As a result, they may fail to recognize critical internal signals such as hunger, thirst, or fatigue in a timely manner. This is particularly true when they become hyper-focused or completely absorbed in a specific task, making it common to miss mealtimes or notice hunger much later than usual. Consequently, Giselle’s explanation that she "doesn’t really feel hungry" aligns closely with these established characteristics of adult ADHD.
Medication-Induced Appetite Suppression
Medical experts note that it is difficult to attribute significant weight loss solely to the behavioral traits of ADHD itself. Instead, a more common driver of reduced appetite is the side effects of stimulant-class medications used to manage the condition. In fact, several pharmaceuticals prescribed for adult ADHD are clinically known to suppress food intake and lead to involuntary weight loss.
Because it has not been publicly disclosed whether Giselle is currently taking prescription medication, it is impossible to definitively pin her weight loss on a single factor. It could stem from inherent ADHD traits, the effects of medical treatment, or a combination of both. Experts advise that for anyone navigating ADHD, if weight loss continues or fatigue becomes severe enough to disrupt daily life, a consultation with a specialist is essential to identify the precise cause.
The Physiological Toll of Rapid Muscle Depletion
When body weight drops excessively, it triggers physiological problems beyond simply feeling lighter. The human body utilizes skeletal muscle as a vital energy reserve alongside fat tissue. If rapid weight loss reduces muscle mass, overall stamina and physical performance inevitably decline. This leads to chronic fatigue and slower physical recovery times, while also potentially compromising immune function. For an idol singer who must repeatedly execute high-intensity choreography during live shows, reduced muscle mass directly compromises onstage stamina, making routines feel significantly more exhausting.
Nutritional Strategies for Healthy Muscle Restoration
When attempting to gain weight healthily, the clinical focus must be on restoring lean muscle mass rather than simply accumulating body fat. This is achieved by combining a sufficient caloric intake with an adequate amount of protein, paired with structured resistance training to safely rebuild physical stamina.
Additionally, for those who struggle to perceive hunger naturally, it is beneficial to avoid relying on spontaneous appetite. Instead, establishing fixed mealtimes helps build a disciplined habit of regular eating. If consuming a large amount of food at once proves difficult, practical alternatives include eating smaller, nutrient-dense meals or healthy snacks more frequently throughout the day.
