Reviewed by최연승대표원장
Every time I finish dieting, I always experience the yo-yo effect. How can I prevent it this time?
The yo-yo effect isn't simply a lack of willpower—it occurs because your body's 'set point' and current 'metabolic capacity' are misaligned. When you force yourself to starve or rely solely on medication, your body perceives it as a crisis and tries to store more energy. It's important to first identify where your body's qi is 'leaking' from and why it keeps trying to accumulate fat. Check your condition using the list below.
I also made mistakes during my studies—staying up all night and eating snacks—and that's when I realized it. Simply eating less isn't the answer. In Traditional Korean Medicine, the reason for the yo-yo effect is found not just in 'eating too much,' but in the imbalance of waste products and qi within the body.
First, check which category your condition falls into:
✓ Do you feel heavy even after waking up? → This could be dampness (痰飮, a state where metabolic waste products are stagnant in the body) accumulated, slowing metabolism.
✓ Do you experience unusual drowsiness after meals and slow digestion? → There's a high possibility that spleen deficiency (脾虛, weakened spleen function) has reduced energy efficiency.
✓ Do you have pale complexion, cold hands and feet, and severe swelling? → This is a case where blood stasis (瘀血, blood that isn't clear and is stagnant) blocks circulation and prevents fat burning.
When 'residue' remains in your body or organ functions are weakened, and you only adjust your diet, the body quickly activates its defense mechanism, causing it to gain fat faster than before. This is the typical mechanism of the yo-yo effect we experience.
Ultimately, the key is creating an environment where 'your body can burn fat on its own.' It's not just about reducing the number on the scale—there needs to be a process of strengthening weakened spleen function and resolving blood stasis to restore basal metabolic capacity. Only then will you have a body that can maintain weight without extreme fasting. I hope we can work together to identify which part of your body is reducing efficiency and find the right direction for you.