Reviewed by최연승대표원장
I keep gaining and losing weight in a yo-yo cycle. How can I break out of this pattern?
Do you have poor appetite control and feel hungry often? This may indicate spleen deficiency (pi xu), weakening digestion and absorption. Do you exercise but not lose weight and tire easily? This suggests qi deficiency (qi xu), slowing energy production and metabolism. Do you crave sweets when stressed? That’s emotional appetite from liver qi stagnation (gan qi yu jie). Do you often drink cold beverages or eat delivery food? This causes spleen-stomach coldness (pi wei leng zheng), blocking metabolism and circulation. If any of these apply, a constitutional diagnosis at a Korean medicine clinic can help identify the root cause.
The fundamental cause of repeated yo-yo dieting is not purely caloric but stems from instability in the body’s energy metabolism and regulatory functions. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this involves a complex interplay of factors such as spleen deficiency (pi xu), qi deficiency (qi xu), liver qi stagnation (gan qi yu jie), and phlegm-fluid retention (tan yin). For example, excessive dieting weakens the spleen (pi), impairing its ability to transform and transport food—leading to poor digestion and a tendency to gain weight instead of lose it. Qi deficiency lowers basal metabolism, making weight loss difficult even with reduced food intake. Liver qi stagnation affects stress hormones, triggering binge eating. Repeated consumption of cold or greasy foods exacerbates phlegm-fluid buildup, worsening metabolic disorders and edema. Without correcting these imbalances, yo-yo cycles are inevitable. If the checklist above resonates strongly, a Korean medicine diagnosis should first identify individual patterns—such as spleen deficiency, qi deficiency, or phlegm-fluid—rather than just changing the diet. This approach restores the body’s qi and circulation, creating a foundation for sustainable weight management without relapse.