Is there a way to prevent yo-yo dieting? I've tried it several times, but eventually all the weight comes back.

I've been there too. The joy of successful dieting is short-lived, and within a few months the weight returns. But if you attribute it solely to lack of willpower, you'll keep making the same mistakes. There are two core causes of yo-yo dieting. First, when you lose weight through excessive calorie restriction or medication, the body perceives a 'famine state' and lowers its basal metabolic rate on its own. Second, in this process, Spleen deficiency (bi xu) develops — the Spleen's function weakens. In Traditional Korean Medicine, the Spleen acts like a warehouse that transforms food into qi and blood. When this warehouse is damaged, even normal eating fails to convert food into energy properly; instead, it gets stored as fat. Additionally, post-diet sequelae may include residual blood stasis (eoha) or phlegm-rheum (dameum). TKM approaches such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion focus not on simple weight loss but on rebalancing this collapsed metabolic system. In other words, the goal is to change the body from 'losing' to 'regulating'. Here is a checklist: - [ ] Is your current food intake below basal metabolic rate? - [ ] Do you have poor digestion, bloating, or frequent gas? → possible Spleen deficiency - [ ] Are your hands and feet cold or do you tire easily? → qi and blood circulation issues - [ ] Have your sleep patterns or menstrual cycle changed after dieting? If any of these apply, restoring organ function is more important than the number on the scale. When I see such patients, my first thought is 'Why did you push yourself so hard to lose weight?' I recommend visiting a clinic to get your body condition checked first.