I have a lean upper body, but I tend to gain weight only in my lower body. Is there a specific criterion for lower body obesity? Also, why does this make dieting more difficult?
Lower body obesity refers to an imbalance in body proportions rather than overall weight gain, typically characterized by hip or thigh measurements significantly larger than the waist. This occurs when slowed blood and lymph circulation lead to waste accumulation and edema, which accelerates fat storage. Because the root cause is 'circulatory stagnation' rather than simple fat accumulation, dietary restriction alone often yields slow results.
Many people make the mistake of relying solely on intense exercise, only to find their legs becoming thicker. This is because lower body obesity is not simply a result of overeating. From a physiological perspective, the lower body is furthest from the heart, making it prone to blood and lymph stagnation due to gravity. When circulation is impaired, fluid accumulates between cells causing edema, which can eventually bind with fat to form firm cellulite.
In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this condition is interpreted through the concepts of 'Dameum' (痰飮, phlegm-fluid) and 'Eohyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis). Dameum refers to the abnormal accumulation of metabolic waste, while Eohyeol refers to the stagnation of blood flow. In particular, those with 'Bi-heo' (脾虛, Spleen deficiency/weak digestive function) suffer from impaired fluid metabolism, which inevitably exacerbates lower body swelling.
Ultimately, the 'circulatory loop' is blocked. If you resort to extreme fasting in this state, the body may paradoxically hold onto lower body fat as a survival mechanism. Therefore, instead of mindless walking or calorie cutting, it is essential to first engage in a process that opens these blocked circulatory pathways.
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