Q. I'm curious about constitution-based diet methods. What is the process like?

The first step is constitution diagnosis. Using the Sasang Constitution questionnaire, pulse diagnosis (脉诊), and tongue diagnosis (舌诊), we distinguish between So-eum, So-yang, Tae-eum, and Tae-yang types, while also assessing current imbalances such as Spleen Deficiency (脾虚), Phlegm (痰饮), or Blood Stasis (瘀血). I was initially skeptical about 'constitution dieting' myself, but after some trial and error, I realized that ignoring constitution leads to limits no matter how much you starve. The second step involves sharing the analysis results and explaining the current body state in an easy-to-understand way. For example, 'You have a Tae-eum constitution, but lately you've been eating a lot of cold foods, worsening your Spleen Deficiency. That's why digestion is poor and your body feels more bloated.' This helps patients understand and accept their condition. Third, we provide constitution-appropriate dietary and lifestyle guidance. So-yang types tend to have excess heat, so cool vegetables are more helpful than spicy foods, while Tae-eum types need recipes that tonify energy. Exercise recommendations also differ by constitution; sweating excessively isn't always beneficial. Fourth, herbal medicine prescriptions are given. These are not just tonics but focus on supplementing the Spleen, removing Phlegm, or resolving Blood Stasis. For example, So-eum types may receive modified Bojungikgi-tang (补中益气汤), and Tae-eum types receive modified Taeumjowi-tang (太阴调胃汤) adjusted to symptoms. The final step is follow-up every 2–4 weeks, monitoring not just weight but daily changes like digestion, sleep quality, and fatigue. Feedback such as 'My stomach feels less bloated after taking the herbs' leads to slight prescription adjustments. Korean medicine dieting prioritizes rebalancing the body over rapid weight loss, so we thoroughly explain the process and proceed like walking together step by step.