올해 30세가 된 영국 브리스톨 출신의 루이스 후퍼 (Lewis Hooper).

한국 생활 4년차인 그는 지금 누구보다 건강한 모습이지만, 한 때는 심각한 섭식 장애로 몸무게가 32kg에 불과한 적이 있었다. 이 때문에 길에서 쓰러져 병원 치료를 받기도 했을 정도였다.

후퍼는 자신이 거식증을 극복하고 다양한 음식을 즐기며 건강하고 활기찬 생활을 하게 된 계기로, 음식을 다른 사람들과 나눠 먹고, 주요리 외에도 항상 다양한 반찬을 곁들여 먹는 한국의 음식 문화를 꼽았다.

그가 한국에 오게 된 것은 코로나가 한창이던 2020년 8월. 영국에서 팬데믹으로 인해 하던 일을 계속할 수 없게 되자, 한국으로 워킹홀리데이를 오기로 결심했다. 항상 배우나 모델 일을 꿈꿨기 때문에 한국에서 모델 일을 찾을 수 있을 거라는 막연한 기대를 품고 서울에 도착했지만, 에이전시에서는 그가 너무 심각하게 말라 건강해 보이지 않는다며 퇴짜를 놓았다.

하지만 한국으로의 이주는 그의 삶을 의외의 방식으로 바꾸어 놓았다. 바로 그가 나고 자란 영국과는 완전히 다른 새로운 음식 문화를 접할 기회가 생긴 것이다.

영국에서 후퍼는 요거트, 바나나, 견과류, 샐러드, 연어나 닭가슴살 위주로 하루 600칼로리를 섭취하고 있었다. 비싼 외식 가격과 팁 부담, 혼자 식당에서 식사하는 것이 흔치 않은 문화 등 때문에, 꼭 필요한 때를 제외하곤 주로 집에서 식사를 했다.

하지만 한국에서는 저렴하고 다양한 메뉴로 발달된 외식 문화 덕분에 주로 식당에서 끼니를 해결하게 되었는데, 이로 인해 식재료와 요리법, 다양한 반찬, 그리고 테이블 위에서 직접 고기를 굽거나 찌개를 끓이는 등 영국과는 너무나도 다른 K-food의 세계에 제대로 빠지게 되었다.

"대부분의 영국 식당과 달리, 한국 식당은 메뉴의 자세한 식이 정보를 제공하지 않아요. 아이러니하게도 이런 정보의 부족이 나의 음식 관련 집착을 덜어주는데 도움이 되었고, 다양한 음식을 맛볼 수 있게 해주었어요."라고 그는 코리아헤럴드와의 인터뷰에서 말했다.

처음에는 무엇을 먹고 있는지 모르는 상황이 낯설고 불안했지만, 곧 음식에 대한 경계를 낮추게 되었고 해방감을 느끼게 되었다는 것이다.

또한 자신도, "같이 식사를 하는 사람들과 음식을 나누면서 다양한 주 요리와 반찬을 시도해 보게 되었는데,” 이것이 영양적으로나, 음식의 즐거움을 되찾는 측면에서 큰 도움이 되었다고 덧붙였다.

이렇게 해서 한때 10까지 떨어졌던 후퍼의 체질량지수 (BMI)가 차츰 정상으로 돌아왔고, 체력과 수면의 질도 크게 개선되었다고 말했다. 세계보건기구(WHO)는 BMI 16 미만을 심각한 저체중으로 간주한다.

후퍼는 자신의 여정을 되돌아보며 그의 이야기가 현재 섭식 장애와 싸우고 있는 사람들, 특히 여성보다 더 많은 관심을 받지 못하는 남성들에게, 도움이 되기를 희망한다고 밝혔다.

“몸에 대한 건강하지 못한 인식 때문에 섭식 장애를 겪으며, 고통을 받는 것은 성별과 무관하다,”며 이런 문제에 사회가 더 많은 관심을 가져야 한다고 말했다.

기사 원문:

[LLG] Healing through K-food: Brit shares recovery from eating disorder through immersion in new food culture

Lewis Hooper, who turned 30 this year, exudes youthful energy, but for much of his 20s, he was dangerously thin.

As a result of his struggle with eating disorders, he weighed just 31 kilograms despite standing 170 centimeters tall.

In an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul, he shared that a turning point in his path to recovery and developing a healthier relationship with food and his body came when he moved in 2021 to Korea on a working holiday visa.

Obsession with body image

Hooper said the driving force behind his eating disorder stemmed from his ultimate career aspiration of becoming a professional actor.

"In the UK, working full-time in the customer service industry, I was already dabbling in acting or modeling on the side," he noted.

Believing that a "scrawny" appearance would help his success in the entertainment industry, he restricted his food intake. At times, when looking in the mirror, he even perceived himself as "fat," in spite of being emaciated.

"Despite concerns from family, friends and colleagues about my health, I stubbornly clung to my restrictive regimen," Hooper told The Korea Herald.

His daily intake back in his hometown of Bristol, England consisted of a carbohydrate-deficient diet: a yogurt drink for breakfast, a banana and cashew nuts for lunch, and salmon or chicken breast with vegetables for dinner, totaling around 600 calories per day.

His anorexia escalated to the point where he weighed just 5 stone -- about 32 kilograms -- in his mid-20s. His body mass index was around 10.

According to the World Health Organization, a BMI of less than 18.5 is classified as underweight, while a BMI of less than 16 is considered "severely thin."

"This even led to me collapsing on the street in the summer of 2019 after work, while on my way to a bus stop," Hooper confessed. Despite receiving intravenous feeding for immediate nutrition therapy at the hospital, he remained adamant about not consuming the protein powder prescribed by his doctor.

His struggle was more complex than it appeared, encompassing physical and mental dimensions. He underwent cognitive processing therapy as part of his recovery journey, which included techniques such as mirror work for self-healing.

His condition improved, with his weight growing to about 48 kilograms. Nevertheless, he said that the genuine transformative experience would not have been possible without his venture to South Korea.

At the height of the pandemic, when he was furloughed from his job in Bristol, South Korea intrigued him as an unexplored destination. Further enticing him were the working opportunities provided by the two nations' exchange working holiday program for those 18-35.

New culture, new diet

While working various jobs such as a language exchange assistant, he tried to find modeling or acting work here. But feedback from agencies here often cited his lack of a "healthy-looking" appearance as a hindrance.

Though initially hesitant about the idea of gaining weight, he soon discovered that some aspects of the culture of food consumption in Korea made eating varied meals more natural. Also, the dining-out experience was especially helpful in immersing him into culinary experiences.

Where he used to work in Bristol, eating out is not as common as it is here, he said, especially when dining alone.

But he has found asking for a table for one to be quite convenient in restaurant-packed Seoul.

"The abundance of dining establishments in Seoul seems to create a culture where eating alone at a restaurant doesn't feel as odd as it did in the UK," he remarked. "The only occasions I dined alone outside (back at home) were when I was on a business trip."

Moreover, he also mentioned a relative financial merit of dining out here.

"Due to the lack of cooking facilities like an oven at home, coupled with the relatively high prices of ingredients at supermarkets (here), I found eating at a restaurant to be a more affordable option," he said, also noting that not having to tip at restaurants here lessened his financial burden, relatively speaking.

For Hooper, one of the factors that stimulates his appetite is the visually appealing dining setup, as exemplified by dishes like colorful bibimbap or a set featuring Korean pork belly cuts alongside a wide variety of side dishes.

Moreover, the absence of ingredient and calorie information on restaurant menus proved to be a liberating factor.

"Unlike most British restaurants, where I could easily access a range of dietary information about meals, here, the menus often only list the names of dishes," he explained. "Ironically, this lack of information helped alleviate my obsession with what I was eating, as I could remain blissfully ignorant while tasting various types of dishes."

The absence of detailed information further encouraged Hooper to embrace new culinary experiences, thanks to the food-sharing culture prevalent when dining with others.

"Communal sharing when dining out allows me to sample a wide range of main dishes and seasoned vegetables as side dishes," he remarked, further mentioning the nutritional benefits of trying different ingredients, as well as the opportunities to explore a culinary realm where he developed a genuine appreciation for food.

He also talked about finding comfort in being able to cook at the table, referring to the use of stoves to prepare meat or stew. This, in part, helped alleviate his concern about food intake, allowing him "to feel more at ease," as he "could exert control over how the food is cooked."

After all, embracing these aspects of Korean food culture played a key role in Hooper's recovery.

He gained weight in a healthy manner, not only feeling more confident now but also noticing a significant improvement in his energy levels and sleep quality.

"Now, I truly enjoy eating," he shared, "feeling more alive and free from the constraints of my eating disorder."

Thanks in part to Korea's food culture, he said he now maintains a weight of 63 kilograms -- twice as much as his lowest point, with a BMI in the normal range. He now works as a freelance model and actor, with occasional reporting jobs.

Looking back on his journey, Hooper expressed hope that his story might offer assistance to those battling eating disorders now, especially men who may not receive as much attention as women regarding this issue.

"It's vital to address body image issues that negatively affect people, because they don't discriminate based on gender," he said.

Standing for living, loving and growing, LLG goes beyond the realm of daily news, exploring the vibrant tapestry of modern life, as told by real people. -- Ed.