Q. My abdominal obesity levels are high. What is the step-by-step process for weight loss at a Korean medicine clinic?

Many people try starving themselves, only to feel exhausted while seeing no real change in weight. From a TKM perspective, abdominal obesity is often caused by blocked circulation of Qi and Blood rather than just overeating. At Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, we generally follow this sequence: 1. Clearing Internal Waste: We first eliminate 'Dameum' (痰飮, accumulated phlegm-fluid/metabolic waste) and 'Eohyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis). Just as a clogged drain causes water to overflow, accumulated waste prevents weight loss regardless of calorie restriction. 2. Activating the Metabolic Switch: We assess whether you have 'Bi-heo' (脾虛, Deficiency of the Spleen/Digestive system). When the Spleen is weak, the body fails to utilize energy efficiently and instead stores it as fat. We use herbal medicine to optimize metabolic efficiency and switch the body into fat-burning mode. 3. Appetite Control and Habit Correction: We soothe 'false hunger' signals sent by the brain and naturally reduce the capacity of the stomach. This is not about forced fasting, but finding the optimal food intake where your body feels comfortable. 4. Maintenance and Reinforcement: The key to long-term success is preserving muscle mass and the basal metabolic rate after weight loss. Skipping this step often leads to a quick return to the previous weight. Depending on your specific constitution, the focus of each stage may vary. Therefore, the first and most important step is an accurate diagnosis of your current physiological state.