Q. I have a relatively slim upper body, but I can't seem to lose weight in my lower body no matter what I do. Are there specific criteria for this, and why is it so difficult to lose?

Lower body obesity is medically defined as a state where the balance between the upper and lower body is disrupted, causing body fat to concentrate disproportionately in the pelvis and legs. From the perspective of Western medicine, this is often attributed to hormonal imbalances or lymphatic drainage disorders. When circulation is obstructed, fluid remains trapped between cells, causing edema (swelling) that compresses surrounding fat tissue. This limits oxygen supply, transforming the local tissue into a state where fat is extremely difficult to metabolize. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this process is explained through the concepts of 'Phlegm-rheum' (Damyum) and 'Blood Stasis' (Eohyeol). Phlegm-rheum refers to sticky, pathological waste fluids accumulated in the body, while Blood Stasis indicates stagnant, impure blood flow. This is frequently linked to 'Spleen Deficiency' (Biheo); when the digestive system's transport and transformation functions are weak, water metabolism falters, and waste naturally settles in the lower body due to gravity. Ultimately, lower body obesity is a condition where the circulatory pathways are severely obstructed. Because these paths are blocked, even if you strictly control your diet, the muscles in the lower body cannot access or utilize that energy effectively, leading the body to continue storing it. Therefore, rather than simply focusing on calorie restriction, the priority must be improving circulation and clearing these metabolic blockages to allow the body to burn fat efficiently.