Q. I've been walking several laps around the track, but I'm not losing any weight. Is walking speed really that important? I’d like to know why.

It is disheartening when the scale doesn't move despite your efforts. While walking is an accessible form of exercise, maximizing its efficiency is key. Our bodies are experts at conserving energy; a leisurely stroll is often perceived by the body as routine movement, utilizing only minimal energy stored in the muscles rather than burning fat. In modern clinical terms, this means you haven't reached the "aerobic heart rate zone." Fat burning requires the heart to beat faster; walking too slowly fails to reach that threshold. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this issue is often analyzed through the concepts of Dameum (phlegm-fluid retention) and Biheo (Spleen deficiency). Dameum refers to metabolic waste accumulated in the body, which causes a sense of heaviness and blocks circulation. To "melt" and eliminate this waste, you need sufficient internal "heat," which slow walking cannot generate. Specifically, individuals with a Biheo constitution have a lower basal metabolic rate and require stronger stimulation to see results. Increasing your walking speed facilitates the flow of Qi (vital energy), which helps resolve stagnant Eohyeol (blood stasis) and allows metabolic waste to be expelled. I often advise patients to "walk as if you are five minutes late for an important appointment." You should feel slightly short of breath with beads of sweat on your forehead to truly engage your body's circulation engine. Ultimately, weight loss success depends less on the total duration and more on the intensity of the pace to trigger your internal metabolic furnace.