Former 4minute member Gayoon reveals 7-year battle with binge eating disorder

Former 4Minute member Heo Gayoon has candidly revealed that she struggled with binge eating disorder for seven years.

Heo Gayoon appeared on the February 25 broadcast of 'You Quiz on the Block,' where she opened up about the difficulties she faced following 4Minute’s disbandment. She shared that her career did not unfold as she had hoped, leading her to battle binge eating disorder for seven years.

“I endured a very difficult period, and eventually my body broke down,” she said. “It started with insomnia and developed into binge eating disorder.”

She described the severity of her condition, explaining that she would clear out entire convenience stores. “I bought everything - lunch boxes, bread, sandwiches. I filled my basket with snacks, then went back a second and third time,” she recalled, describing how uncontrollable the situation became.

“It’s different from just having a strong appetite,” she emphasized. “I couldn’t feel full. I only stopped when my stomach hurt so badly it felt like it would burst. The thought that I had to eat immediately completely took over my mind. Even if I was at home, I would throw on a padded jacket, go out to buy food, eat everything without even taking the jacket off, and then head to another convenience store.”

She said she often did not realize how much she had consumed until she saw the piles of empty wrappers beside her or noticed her swollen reflection in the mirror, which would bring her to tears.

After opening up to her parents for the first time, Heo Gayoon sought professional help. She recalled her doctor telling her, “You have strong perfectionist tendencies and obsessive traits. Just like a rubber band snaps when stretched too far, the part of you that controls yourself has broken down,” explaining the underlying cause of her disorder.

Following 4Minute’s disbandment, Heo Gayoon endured a series of hardships, including setbacks in her acting career, her battle with binge eating disorder, and the death of her older brother. She is currently living in Bali as she continues her life journey.

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