Q. I want to know why I keep gaining weight. How can I identify the cause of my obesity?

Yes, many people have such concerns. Weight gain is often not simply a matter of how much you eat. In clinical practice, I often hear patients say, 'I eat little, but why do I still gain weight?' In Traditional Korean Medicine, we approach this from three main perspectives. First, metabolic function – Spleen Deficiency (Biheo) and Phlegm-Fluid (Dameum). The Spleen transforms food into energy; when its function declines, ingested substances are not properly utilized and remain as 'Phlegm-Fluid' residues. This leads to a heavy feeling, easy fatigue, and abdominal fat accumulation. Reducing food intake may not result in weight loss. Second, hormone balance – Liver Qi Stagnation (Ganul) and Qi-Blood circulation. Stress, irregular sleep, and overwork affect the Liver, obstructing Qi flow. This raises cortisol, causes insulin resistance, and leads to abdominal obesity. In TKM, this is termed Liver Qi Stagnation, often accompanied by binge eating or late-night cravings. Third, gut environment and inflammation – Damp-Heat (Seupyeol) and Blood Stasis (Eohyeol). When gut beneficial bacteria decrease and harmful bacteria increase, chronic inflammation develops, creating a 'Damp-Heat' state. Symptoms include bloating, alternating constipation and diarrhea, and skin issues. Exercise may be less effective due to underlying inflammation. To identify your cause of obesity, check which of these three patterns you resemble. Overlaps are common; through pulse diagnosis and abdominal palpation at a Korean medicine clinic, a more precise assessment can be made. If it's difficult to judge on your own, consulting a nearby Korean medicine clinic is a good option.