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다이어트 기초·원인 이해
다이어트 기초·원인 이해

Q. I’ve struggled with my weight since I was a student. Is there a specific reason why losing weight is much harder for people with this kind of constitution?

A.

If you were overweight from a young age, it is likely that the actual number of fat cells in your body increased, rather than just their size. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this is attributed to Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo), where the body fails to transform food into energy, leading to the accumulation of metabolic waste known as Phlegm-Dampness (Seup-dam). This creates a cycle where waste is stored but not efficiently excreted, making weight loss significantly more challenging in adulthood.

📝 Detailed Answer

I deeply empathize with your frustration, as I also struggled with weight issues during my school years. While there is a common myth that childhood weight eventually turns into height, the clinical reality is often different. Medically, childhood obesity is categorized as 'hyperplastic,' meaning the total number of fat cells increases. Because these cells do not disappear even after reaching adulthood, it creates a constitution that gains weight more easily than others. Traditional Korean Medicine explains this through a three-stage pathological chain. The root cause is Spleen Qi Deficiency (Bi-heo). When the Spleen's function of 'transformation and transportation' is weakened, the body cannot convert nutrients into vital energy, leaving behind stagnant residue. This residue thickens into Phlegm-Dampness (Seup-dam), which acts like a clogged drain, obstructing systemic circulation. Over time, this stagnation leads to Blood Stasis (Eohyeol), where the blood becomes turbid and flow is further restricted. When this cycle of 'Spleen Deficiency → Phlegm-Dampness → Blood Stasis' becomes established, simply reducing caloric intake rarely works. Starving yourself often causes the body to hold onto waste even more tightly while depleting your remaining energy. Therefore, the priority should be restoring Spleen function to clear the metabolic pathways. By improving the body's natural ability to discharge waste, you can create a sustainable environment for weight loss rather than just fighting the scale.
#cause-explanation #cause-chain
Dr. Yeonseung Choe

Expert Verified

Dr. Yeonseung Choe

Chief Director

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