Q. Can Traditional Korean Medicine help prevent weight regain after dieting?

Yo-yo phenomenon is a major concern in Traditional Korean Medicine because it's not simply regaining weight—it's an important signal of bodily instability. From the TKM perspective, three main factors are involved: First, spleen deficiency (脾虛). The spleen is considered the 'postnatal foundation' (後天之本), responsible for transforming and transporting food. When spleen deficiency occurs, digestive function weakens and basal metabolism decreases, causing weight gain from minimal eating and resistance to weight loss despite increased exercise. Second, blood stasis (瘀血) often accompanies this condition. Long-term weight control attempts cause qi-blood stagnation, particularly impairing local blood flow and creating a constitution prone to fat accumulation. Third, phlegm-dampness (痰飮) constitution. When digestive function becomes disordered, dampness transforms into phlegm, characteristically accumulating in the lower abdomen and waist area. The TKM approach to preventing yo-yo follows these principles: 1) Avoid rapid weight loss; 2) Strengthen spleen function; 3) Aim for constitution improvement that raises basal metabolism; 4) Treat concurrent conditions like blood stasis and phlegm-dampness. At our clinic, initial consultations include pulse diagnosis and constitution analysis to determine your individual pattern. Based on this, we customize herbal prescriptions and may combine moxibustion or acupuncture treatments. The key is not just losing weight, but transforming your constitution to one that can maintain healthy weight. While we cannot guarantee absolute prevention, medical support for constitution improvement can significantly reduce relapse rates. Traditional Korean Medicine is particularly strong in this area. If you're interested, please discuss your specific situation during an initial consultation so we can create a personalized plan together.