I’ve been exercising but can’t seem to lose weight, and my body composition test shows a 25% body fat percentage. What exactly does this number mean, and why is dieting becoming so much harder?

I have also experienced the struggle of blind fasting only to feel lethargic and dizzy. While 25% body fat is an excellent indicator of general health for women, it is often a 'plateau zone' for those seeking a more toned physique. From a Western medical perspective, fat tissue is significantly less efficient at burning energy than muscle. As fat levels rise, the body shifts its priority toward storage rather than expenditure. This low metabolic efficiency creates a vicious cycle where excess energy from even normal meals is quickly converted back into fat. Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) explains this through the concepts of Spleen Deficiency (Biheo) and Phlegm-retained fluid (Dameum). The Spleen is responsible for digestive transformation; when its energy is weak, it cannot convert food into usable energy and instead leaves behind metabolic 'residue.' This sticky residue is what we call Phlegm (Dameum). When this fluid stagnates, it obstructs the circulation of Qi and Blood, eventually leading to Blood Stasis (Eohyeol). This creates a constitution that swells easily and resists weight loss. Rather than simply starving yourself, it is crucial to improve your constitution by tonifying your energy and expelling these metabolic wastes. Let’s work together to figure out why your metabolic engine has slowed down instead of struggling alone.