다이어트 기초·원인 이해
Q. How exactly do these popular 2-week short-term diets work? I'm curious why the weight drops so quickly.
A.
Rapid weight loss over a short period is typically driven by biological mechanisms involving 'water loss' and 'glycogen depletion.' First, dietary restriction forces the body to use stored energy (glycogen). Since glycogen binds with water, this water is released, causing a temporary drop in scale weight. However, this differs from actual fat loss and is the primary reason for the 'yo-yo effect' once normal eating habits resume.
📝 Detailed Answer
I've been there myself—driven by ambition, I once tried fasting blindly. While it was exciting to see the numbers drop, I felt completely drained and dizzy. Please take this as a lesson from someone who has made those mistakes.
When the body needs energy, it utilizes glycogen (stored carbohydrates) before tapping into fat stores. Crucially, glycogen holds onto about 3 to 4 times its own weight in water. This is why 'water weight' disappears before actual fat does during a crash diet; you aren't necessarily losing fat, but rather temporarily dehydrating your tissues.
From the perspective of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), such restrictive diets easily lead to a state of Spleen Deficiency (脾虛). When the function of the Spleen—which is responsible for digestion and absorption—weakens, your overall metabolic capacity plummets. Furthermore, if this leads to the accumulation of Phlegm-Fluid (痰飮) or Blood Stasis (瘀血), you may develop a constitution that gains weight easily even while eating very little.
Ultimately, the key is not the 'number' on the scale, but 'metabolic efficiency.' Rather than forcing weight loss through starvation, the healthiest approach is to revitalize your body's vital energy (Qi) to create an internal environment where fat is burned naturally and efficiently.
#cause-explanation
#cause-chain
Expert Verified
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director