Q. My eyelids are very puffy every morning—is this related to weight gain? Why do I seem to swell up more than other people?

While Western medicine often looks at lymphatic drainage or local circulation, Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) examines the 'metabolic engine.' The primary suspect for chronic puffiness is Spleen Deficiency (Biheo). In TKM, the Spleen is responsible for transporting fluids and nutrients; when this function weakens, fluids stagnate and turn into a pathological byproduct called Phlegm-retention (Dameum). Since the skin around the eyes is thin, this Phlegm-retention manifests as edema easily. If this stagnation persists, it hinders the circulation of Qi and Blood, ultimately lowering your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). The common Korean saying that 'swelling becomes fat' is clinically relevant here; if the body spends all its energy trying to push out Water-toxins (Sudok), it lacks the energy to burn fat. From over a decade of clinical experience, I have found that extreme fasting often worsens this condition by further weakening the Spleen. Rather than forced calorie restriction, the focus should be on strengthening Spleen function to discharge Phlegm. Just as you must clear a clogged drain for water to flow, restoring the body's natural circulation is the first step toward sustainable weight loss.