다이어트 기초·원인 이해
Q. I'm trying to lose weight; why do you keep mentioning 'basal metabolic rate' and 'metabolic function'? What exactly are they, and why are they so important?
A.
Simply put, think of it as the 'base energy fee' your body requires just to stay alive. When energy efficiency drops, metabolic waste accumulates and overall function declines, eventually turning your body into a constitution that gains weight easily even with the same food intake. While Western medicine views this as a drop in caloric burn efficiency, Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) sees it as a state of impaired circulation of Qi and Blood.
📝 Detailed Answer
Many people try extreme fasting, but this causes the body to enter a 'state of emergency,' slashing metabolic function to conserve energy. In TKM, this state is primarily identified as Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛). When the Spleen's function weakens, the body lacks the strength to convert food into energy, leaving behind unused metabolic waste.
This waste is known as Phlegm-Fluid (Dam-eum, 痰飮), an abnormal accumulation of fluids that obstructs circulation between blood vessels and tissues. When this is coupled with Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血)—where blood becomes sluggish and viscous due to poor circulation—the body feels heavier and metabolism slows further, creating a vicious cycle.
Therefore, the answer is not simply eating less. We must improve the state of Spleen Deficiency to enhance digestive absorption and clear out Phlegm-Fluid and Blood Stasis. Only then can the body's 'base energy fee' be normalized and metabolism naturally revitalized. If you are wondering why previous diets failed, it is essential to first assess the current state of your body's 'metabolic engine.'
#cause-explanation
#cause-chain
Expert Verified
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director