What exactly does the 0.8 figure for abdominal obesity mean, and why is it so important for weight loss?
The value 0.8 refers to the Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR), calculated by dividing waist circumference by hip circumference. While medical obesity is typically diagnosed at 0.85 for women and 0.9 for men, reaching 0.8 signifies that visceral fat is accumulating and metabolic efficiency is dropping. Increased insulin resistance creates a 'low-efficiency state' where weight remains stubborn even with reduced food intake, making this ratio a critical metric for successful dieting.
The 0.8 threshold is more than just an aesthetic concern; it is a distress signal from your internal organs, specifically the liver and pancreas. When abdominal fat becomes excessive, 'insulin resistance' develops, causing the body to prioritize storing fat over burning energy. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this condition is often rooted in Spleen Deficiency (Biheo). A weakened Spleen fails to transform food into vital energy, leaving behind metabolic waste known as Phlegm-fluid (Dameum). As this Phlegm-fluid accumulates in the abdomen and obstructs the circulation of Qi and Blood, it can further lead to Blood Stasis (Eohyeol), where the blood becomes stagnant and impure. Many patients find that simply starving themselves leads to 'normal-weight obesity' (skinny fat), where they lose muscle while the belly remains. To effectively lower this ratio, it is essential to clear the stagnant Phlegm-fluid and Blood Stasis while revitalizing Spleen function to restart your body's metabolic switch. We should carefully evaluate your body's current circulatory state to develop a personalized approach.
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