Q. What exactly is a calorie calculator, and why does it affect dieting?

A calorie calculator estimates the energy content of food and the energy expended through physical activity. In Western medicine, the principle of energy balance—where weight loss occurs when calorie intake is less than expenditure—is fundamental. Many people assume that simply matching calories will lead to successful dieting, but the body does not work like a simple calculator. In Traditional Korean Medicine, the transformation of food into qi and blood heavily depends on the spleen and stomach (bi wi). When the spleen is deficient (bi heo), its function weakens, leading to improper digestion and absorption. Instead of converting food into vital energy, it may accumulate as pathological products like dampness-phlegm (seup dam) or blood stasis (eo hyeol). If calories are merely reduced in this state, weight may drop temporarily, but qi and blood become further depleted, metabolism slows, and rebound weight gain (yo-yo effect) is common. I learned this the hard way early in my practice when I emphasized calorie calculators and saw frequent relapses among patients. Now I find it far more effective to first address spleen deficiency or phlegm-dampness constitution, then combine dietary management. This is not to say that the concept of calories is wrong, but that simple calculation without considering the body's condition has limitations. Therefore, Korean medicine diet focuses on 'what and how you digest' rather than just calories.