Q. What is the specific difference between a general diet based on eating less and a diet focused on lowering body fat percentage?

Many people believe that drastically reducing food intake is the only way to lose weight. While this may work temporarily, the body reacts to sudden calorie deficits by entering a 'crisis mode.' During this state, the body often burns muscle for energy instead of fat, which inevitably lowers your basal metabolic rate. This creates a constitution that is highly susceptible to the 'yo-yo effect,' where you regain weight even with minimal food intake. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this weakened state is often referred to as Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛). When the functions of the Spleen—responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption—are impaired, metabolic efficiency drops, making it easier for body fat to accumulate. If this is compounded by the accumulation of Phlegm-fluid (Dam-eum, 痰飮) and Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血), which obstruct circulation, you may experience dizziness and fatigue even while strictly dieting, without seeing significant fat loss. Rather than mindless fasting, the priority should be 'flipping the metabolic switch.' By treating Spleen Deficiency to boost overall energy (Qi) and clearing Phlegm-fluid and Blood Stasis to improve circulation, your body can begin to burn body fat more efficiently. The key is not just restricting calories, but first assessing your current metabolic capacity and tailoring your approach to ensure healthy, sustainable fat loss.