I’ve lost weight, but why is my belly fat still the same? What exactly is body fat percentage, and why is it so important?
Body fat percentage refers to the actual proportion of fat relative to your total body weight. If you starve yourself simply to lower the number on the scale, your body burns muscle for survival. This lowers your basal metabolic rate (BMR), creating a vicious cycle where your body stores fat more easily. Consequently, while the weight drops, your physique remains unchanged, and you become prone to the yo-yo effect. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this state of impaired metabolic function is often diagnosed as Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo).
I once obsessed over the scale and tried starving myself, only to end up feeling exhausted and dizzy. It was a classic mistake. Our bodies are composed of water, muscle, and fat. Body fat analyzers work by sending a microcurrent through the body; muscle, which is high in water, conducts electricity well, whereas fat resists it. A high body fat percentage means you lack the 'factories' (muscles) to burn energy and have too many 'warehouses' (fat) full of storage. In TKM, this condition is known as Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo). When the Spleen’s transformative function is weak, food cannot be converted into energy, leading to the accumulation of metabolic waste called Phlegm-fluid (Dameum)—the root of body fat. If circulation is further hindered, Blood Stasis (Eohyeol) develops, causing fat to settle stubbornly in specific areas like the abdomen. Simply eating less is not the solution. To lower your body fat percentage healthily, you must revitalize the Spleen and expel Phlegm and Stasis. It is far more important to focus on whether your body is utilizing energy efficiently than to just chase a lower number.
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