Q. Now that I'm in my 40s, I find that fasting doesn't help me lose weight like it used to. Can Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) diet programs help?

In your 40s, simply fasting like you did in your 20s or 30s often doesn't work because your body's internal 'engine' is no longer as efficient as it once was.

In Traditional Korean Medicine, this condition is often viewed as Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛). When the function of the Spleen weakens, the body's ability to absorb and transport nutrients decreases. Consequently, instead of being converted into energy, consumed calories are more likely to be stored as fat.

• Decreased Vital Energy (Qi) $\rightarrow$ Lower basal metabolic rate $\rightarrow$ Difficulty losing weight even with low caloric intake
• Accumulation of Phlegm-Fluid (Dam-jeok, 痰積) $\rightarrow$ Waste products obstruct metabolic flow $\rightarrow$ Leads to edema and weight-loss plateaus
• Hormonal Changes $\rightarrow$ Decrease in muscle mass and accelerated fat accumulation

Therefore, the key is not mere starvation, but rather reinforcing Qi and Blood (Gi-hyeol, 氣血) to normalize your metabolism. You must 'flip the switch' of your body's metabolism to create an environment where weight loss can actually occur.