Extreme dieter drops dead at 23

A woman who lost more than 75 kilograms (165 pounds) in less than two years after appearing on a TV program to talk about her obesity was found dead by her boyfriend.

The Daegu Seongseo Police Precinct reported yesterday that the 23-year-old woman was found dead in a motel bathroom in Dalseo District, Daegu, at 11:30 p.m. Sunday.

The man, whose identity was withheld by the police, told authorities that the woman, whose name was also undisclosed, went to the bathroom because she felt she was about to vomit.

According to the police, the man said he went to the bathroom to check on her 20 minutes later and found her lying on the floor.

The woman appeared on a television program in January 2012 when she weighed 131.8 kilograms. Following her initial appearance, she went on a rigorous diet and had lap band surgery to lose weight.

After losing 46 kilograms in just over a year, she again appeared on the TV program earlier this year weighing 85.8 kilograms.

She got down to 56 kilograms recently and told her family she wanted to get to the 40 kilogram range, according to police.

Investigators said the woman was suffering from anemia and passed out during the Chuseok holiday.

The police found no wounds on her body and are not ruling out the possibility that she might have choked to death while vomiting or that her diet brought on heart problems.

An autopsy will be performed today to find the exact cause of death.

BY KIM YUN-HO [jkkang2@joongang.co.kr]