Q. I specifically choose 'diet' drinks to lose weight, but why is my weight staying the same and my body feeling constantly bloated?

I have personally experienced the frustration of relying on 'diet' drinks or lattes during busy clinical hours, only to find myself feeling heavier and more fatigued. From a medical perspective, the core issue is often 'insulin resistance.' Even low-calorie artificial sweeteners can stimulate the brain and pancreas, causing insulin spikes that shift the body into fat-storage mode rather than fat-burning mode. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), we analyze this through a physiological progression. It begins with 'Spleen Deficiency' (脾虛), where the digestive system’s ability to 'transport and transform' nutrients is weakened. Because the body cannot extract proper energy, you experience cravings. These unrefined nutrients then turn into 'Phlegm-Fluid' (痰飮), a sticky form of metabolic waste. Eventually, this accumulation leads to 'Blood Stasis' (瘀血) and 'Qi Stagnation' (氣滯), which severely impairs circulation. This is why some people feel they gain weight or bloat even when consuming very little. Rather than just focusing on what to cut out, you must address why your body is failing to expel these wastes. Instead of suppressing hunger with fake sweetness, the clinical priority should be to tonify the Spleen and digestive Qi, enabling your body to naturally clear out Phlegm-Fluid and restore metabolic balance.