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

If you keep gaining weight, a simple 'eat less' approach is unlikely to work. I realized this after some trial and error — you need to accurately identify the root cause. In Traditional Korean Medicine, obesity is broadly classified into three types. First is Spleen deficiency (脾虛, bi heo). When the Spleen function is weak, food is not properly transformed into energy and instead accumulates in the body. In this case, you may gain weight even without eating much, and it is often accompanied by bloating and fatigue. Second is Phlegm-fluid (痰飮, dam eum). This condition involves accumulation of unnecessary fluids and waste in the body, leading to a heavy sensation, frequent swelling, and a sticky tongue coating. Third is Blood stasis (瘀血, eo hyeol). Poor blood circulation impairs fat metabolism, causing localized obesity or pain. Additionally, if Liver qi stagnation (肝鬱, gan ul) due to stress is involved, appetite-regulating hormones become disrupted, leading to frequent overeating or late-night snacking — especially worsening abdominal obesity. In other words, even at the same body weight, the treatment approach differs completely depending on which cause predominates. Suppressing appetite alone, as in Western diet pills, fails to address these root causes, making rebound weight gain or side effects more likely. In my clinic, I first determine the predominant type by examining the pulse, tongue, and performing abdominal diagnosis (복진, abdominal palpation). The checklist above provides simple self-assessment criteria. If you match 2 or more, I recommend seeking a professional diagnosis. Once the cause is identified, the path forward becomes much easier.