Reviewed by최연승대표원장
What is the recommended daily calorie intake for an adult woman? I’m eating very little, so why am I not losing weight?
While the average recommendation for an adult woman is 1,800–2,000 kcal, this is merely a general baseline. When calorie intake is too low, the body enters a 'starvation mode' to conserve energy, which lowers your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). Traditional Korean Medicine views this as a state of 'stagnation,' where vital energy (Qi) does not circulate properly. The true key to weight loss is not just eating less, but improving how efficiently your body burns energy.
The energy an adult woman consumes daily consists of her Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) combined with her activity-induced energy expenditure. However, relying solely on calorie counting can be misleading. When you drastically restrict calories, your body declares a state of emergency, leading to 'metabolic adaptation.' This causes metabolic rates to slow down and insulin resistance to fluctuate, making the body hold onto fat more aggressively even when food intake is minimal.
In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this condition is often diagnosed as Spleen Qi Deficiency (Biheo). The Spleen is responsible for the digestive function of transforming food into energy. When this function is weakened, the body fails to produce healthy energy and instead accumulates metabolic byproducts known as 'Phlegm-fluid' (Dameum), which leads to bloating, edema, and fat accumulation. Furthermore, if this is accompanied by 'Blood Stasis' (Eohyeol)—where blood circulation becomes sluggish—the body feels chronically heavy and fatigued.
Effective weight management is not about the math of cutting numbers; it is about restoring the body's 'fuel efficiency.' The priority should be a TKM approach that strengthens the Spleen and clears accumulated Phlegm and Blood Stasis. By resolving these internal blockages, you allow your body to naturally restore its metabolic flow and burn energy more effectively.