Reviewed by최연승대표원장
After dieting, I often regain the weight (yo-yo effect). How can I prevent this?
Check if you have a swollen tongue with teeth marks upon waking → possible spleen deficiency. Cold hands/feet or poor digestion → declined qi-blood circulation. Heavy body and persistent phlegm → phlegm-fluid accumulation. Stress-induced binge eating or sweet cravings → accompanying liver depression. Weight that is hard to lose and easily regained → requires fundamental treatment. Since causes vary per individual, pulse diagnosis is essential to determine the correct approach.
In Traditional Korean Medicine, yo-yo effect is not simply a matter of willpower but a state where the body holds onto fat. It is explained as water metabolism disorders due to spleen deficiency (비허), or accumulation of metabolic waste called phlegm-fluid (담음) that hinders weight control. For example, extreme dietary restriction during dieting further weakens the spleen, lowering metabolic rate, so when normal eating resumes, water and fat are easily reaccumulated. Additionally, stress and irregular lifestyle cause liver depression (간울), disrupting appetite-regulating hormones. Attempting to solve this by simply starving or exercising can make the body more rigid, and the weakened spleen never recovers, leading to repeated yo-yo effects. In my early practice, I emphasized diet control alone, which actually worsened the yo-yo effect. Now I first assess constitution and current condition via pulse diagnosis; for spleen deficiency, I prescribe tonifying herbs (보비), and for excess phlegm-fluid, formulas to disperse phlegm and remove dampness (소담거습). The key is to reestablish metabolic foundation rather than short-term weight loss. If you have many items on the checklist, I recommend visiting a clinic for pulse and tongue diagnosis to find the exact cause, as individual patterns vary greatly and the same method does not work for everyone.