다이어트 기초·원인 이해
Q. Where exactly should I measure my waist to determine abdominal obesity, and why is this so important for weight loss?
A.
Waist circumference is typically measured at the level of the navel or the widest part below the ribcage. This is crucial because an increase in visceral fat releases fatty acids into the bloodstream, increasing insulin resistance. This creates a vicious cycle: increased visceral fat leads to the release of inflammatory substances, which lowers metabolism and creates a constitution prone to weight gain.
📝 Detailed Answer
From a medical perspective, abdominal obesity is more concerning due to visceral fat rather than subcutaneous fat. When visceral fat accumulates, it releases inflammatory cytokines called 'adipokines,' which effectively flip the body's metabolic switch to 'off.' Consequently, even with a caloric deficit, the body struggles to expend energy and instead continues to store it.
In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this condition is interpreted through the concepts of 'Dam-eum' (phlegm-fluid retention) and 'Eo-hyeol' (blood stasis). Dam-eum refers to a state where metabolic waste products are not properly processed and remain stagnant, while Eo-hyeol indicates impaired blood circulation. In particular, if a patient is in a state of 'Bi-heo' (Spleen deficiency), where the digestive function is weakened, the balance between nutrient absorption and excretion is disrupted, making it easier for waste to accumulate in the abdominal area.
An increasing waist circumference is essentially a signal that your body's circulatory 'pump' is exhausted. Rather than resorting to extreme fasting, the core approach should be to resolve the stagnant Dam-eum and Eo-hyeol to restore metabolic capacity. This is the key to achieving healthy weight management without the yo-yo effect.
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Expert Verified
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director