Q. What exactly is the abdominal fat percentage shown on an InBody scan? And why does it make it harder to lose weight when this percentage is high?

Many patients feel frustrated when they experience localized abdominal weight gain despite eating less. A high abdominal fat percentage is a signal that visceral fat is accumulating and your body's 'metabolic switch' is beginning to turn off. When the hormone insulin cannot function efficiently, nutrients are stored directly as fat instead of being used for energy, creating a cycle where weight loss becomes incredibly difficult even with a calorie deficit. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this condition is viewed through the lens of Dam-eum (痰飮 - phlegm-fluid retention) and Eo-hyeol (瘀血 - blood stasis). Dam-eum refers to sticky metabolic waste created by poor fluid metabolism, while Eo-hyeol refers to stagnant, impure blood. Specifically, when a person enters a state of Bi-heo (脾虛 - Spleen deficiency/impaired digestive function), the body fails to absorb nutrients properly and instead accumulates waste, which accelerates the increase of abdominal fat. This is not a problem that can be solved simply by starving yourself. To truly ignite fat burning, you must first clear the blocked circulatory pathways and normalize your metabolic functions. I recommend we examine your current state of circulation together to determine the best personalized treatment plan.