Q. After dieting, I always experience the yo-yo effect. I'm curious about Korean medicine methods to prevent the yo-yo effect.

The yo-yo effect after dieting is not just about weight gain; it indicates instability in the body’s energy metabolism and fluid regulation. In Korean medicine, the spleen (脾臟, bijang) is responsible for digesting food and transporting nutrients throughout the body. Excessive dieting weakens the spleen, leading to spleen deficiency (脾虛, biheo), which causes slow metabolism, easy fatigue, and weight gain even with small meals. Alternatively, if water excretion was impaired during dieting, phlegm (痰飮, dameum) may accumulate, or blood circulation stagnation causes blood stasis (瘀血, eohyeol), both leading to yo-yo effects. The cause varies: A) Extreme calorie restriction → spleen deficiency; need tonifying herbs and diet. B) Rapid loss via exercise or drugs → likely phlegm or blood stasis; need to clear waste and improve circulation. C) Repeated yo-yo cycles → combined deficiency and stagnation. Thus, clinics do not simply prescribe weight loss; they first diagnose through pulse, tongue, and abdominal exam. Lifestyle habits—such as irregular meals or lack of sleep—are assessed. From experience, preventing the yo-yo effect starts with understanding your body’s condition, not just avoiding certain foods. Methods vary by individual constitution and environment, so an in-person consultation is recommended. View the yo-yo effect not as failure but as a signal from your body.