Q. My InBody results show a high abdominal fat percentage. What is the difference between conventional dieting and Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) dieting?

Abdominal fat does not occur solely due to overeating. In Traditional Korean Medicine, it is closely linked to stagnation in circulation. Specifically, when metabolic waste accumulates in the abdomen, it is referred to as 'Dameum' (痰飮, phlegm-fluid retention); in this state, fat remains stubborn even with significant exercise. If this is compounded by 'Eohyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis) caused by poor qi and blood circulation, you may feel heavy and experience chronic bloating. Furthermore, if you are in a state of 'Bihyeo' (脾虛, Spleen deficiency/weak digestive function), your metabolic capacity drops significantly. This creates a constitution where you gain abdominal fat more easily than others, even when consuming the same amount of food. In such cases, indiscriminate fasting leads to muscle loss and a decrease in basal metabolic rate, often resulting in the dreaded 'yo-yo effect.' Here is a summary of the differences: | Category | Conventional Diet | Baekrokdam TKM Diet | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Core Approach | Calorie restriction & increased activity | Constitutional improvement & metabolic recovery | | Target | General overall weight loss | Personalized resolution of weight-loss plateaus | | Physical Response | Potential hunger and lethargy | Metabolic stimulation and appetite regulation support | | Management Perspective | Focus on numerical data | Removal of causes such as Eohyeol and Dameum | | Sustainability | Heavily dependent on willpower | Progresses by optimizing overall body condition | Rather than deciding which is objectively 'better,' the key is determining whether your body is currently in a state where 'eating less leads to loss' or if you first need to 'flip the metabolic switch.' I invite you to visit the clinic so we can thoroughly analyze your current physical condition together.