In a recent interview, Chinese comedian Jia Ling, who had previously lost 100 pounds for the movie “Hi, Mom,” has once again become a topic of discussion due to weight rebound. Responding to online comments about her “getting fat again,” she smiled candidly and said, “I just can’t maintain it.”
A recent photo of Jia Ling circulating online shows her with a round face and softer jawline, appearing to have gained weight compared to when she filmed “Hi, Mom.” The hot search terms have shifted from her latest movies and creations to “Jia Ling weight rebound.” Some netizens even jest, “Hey buddy, was that 100 pounds lost all in vain? She got shockingly thin before, and it didn’t take long for her to bounce back. Seems like her weight loss hit a snag!”
At 44 years old, Jia Ling achieved box office success with her self-directed movies “Hi, Mom” and “Hi, Fidelity” in recent years. Particularly for “Hi, Fidelity,” she intentionally gained 40 pounds to portray a boxer character, filming the first half of the movie at 210 pounds. After enduring the tough periods of loneliness, pressure, and weight loss plateau, she lost another 100 pounds within 8 months, essentially shedding half of herself for the latter part of the film. At her lightest, she weighed only 109.2 pounds, embodying a transformative image for her role as Du Lingying.
During the filming of “Hi, Fidelity,” Jia Ling pushed her body to extreme limits to achieve a striking visual appearance on screen, with body fat nearing dangerously low levels, prompting doctors to express concern. As she describes it, it was a “special forces-style performance state,” not sustainable for everyday life.
After undergoing drastic weight loss, the body experiences a drop in leptin levels, signaling strong hunger and reducing basal metabolism to protect life. Jia Ling frankly admitted, “Pushing harder, one might die.” Media estimates place her current weight around 140 pounds. While her face appears rounder, she still maintains good muscle definition, radiating vitality and health.
Recently, at a small media event, Jia Ling was asked about her body and weight. She confidently addressed the online discussions, waving at the camera and saying with a smile, “Yes, I bounced back. Ling is back. Can’t maintain it, really can’t maintain it.”
Her straightforward statement without excuses or self-pity but with simple honesty has shifted the tide of public opinion. The online discourse swiftly turned understanding and empathetic. Many netizens, seeing the familiar round face of Jia Ling, felt reassured, leaving heartwarming comments like, “This is the Ling we know! Being too thin before made her seem distant, now she’s just right!”
The year 2024 marked the peak of Jia Ling’s career, with unparalleled success. To perfect her movie “Hi, Fidelity,” she secluded herself for a year, rejecting all variety shows, events, and commercial performances, fully investing herself in creation and self-transformation.
The public lauded Jia Ling with various tags like “extreme self-discipline,” “tough as nails,” and “reborn from the ashes” during that period. Her determination and perseverance impressed many, propelling her to new heights in her career.
With Jia Ling’s sudden rise to fame, contrasting opinions followed suit. Some viewers felt deeply moved by the protagonist’s growth trajectory in the film, seeing the shadow of an ordinary girl struggling, evolving, and healing. On the other hand, some believed the film leaned too heavily on marketing, resembling an extended personal weight-loss documentary, with room for improvement in story core, plot details, and overall quality, overshadowed by hype and promotion.
Amidst divided opinions and revisited controversies, Jia Ling, once universally adored, found herself embroiled in a storm of public perception disputes. Her predicament reflects the harsh rules of the entertainment industry: viewers can accept actors changing for roles but find it challenging to accept a “collapsed persona.” She was once the “irreplaceable chubby girl,” now having to compete among a crowd of slim actresses, indicating the difficulty of her position.
In an interview, Jia Ling candidly expressed that if she had to stick to 100 pounds for life, engage in rigorous daily exercise, and eat unpalatable cauliflower and kale, life would be “too stifling and miserable.” Currently, she maintains her exercise routine but opts to relax, enjoy good food, and return to a normal and comfortable life pace. Many netizens showed understanding and forgiveness for her honesty, leaving comments like, “That’s right, our Ling is back!” A relaxed and healthy mental state like this, free from extreme weight restrictions, is equally touching.
(Translated from Chinese)