Q. I keep experiencing yo-yo effects with my weight. Is there a way to check the root cause of my obesity?

Repeated yo-yo dieting is often not simply due to a lack of willpower. The body's homeostatic mechanism strongly works to return weight to its original state. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this mechanism is seen as a problem with Spleen-Stomach (pi wei) function and fluid metabolism. The most common pattern is Spleen Qi Deficiency (pi xu). The spleen is responsible for digesting and absorbing food and distributing fluids throughout the body. When this function weakens, nutrients are not properly utilized and turn into sticky waste called Phlegm-Fluid (tan yin). Accumulated Phlegm-Fluid makes the body heavy and prone to weight gain, with rapid rebound after weight loss. The second pattern is Blood Stasis (yu xue). Poor blood circulation reduces oxygen supply around fat cells and accumulates inflammatory substances, often causing swelling in the lower abdomen or thighs, pain upon pressure, and darkened skin. Constipation or menstrual irregularities may accompany this. The third pattern is Qi Stagnation (qi zhi). Stress blocks the flow of Liver Qi (gan qi), impairing digestion and causing abnormal appetite—feeling bloated yet still wanting to eat. Finally, Yang Deficiency (yang xu) constitution involves insufficient heat production, leading to low basal metabolic rate, cold hands and feet, and diarrhea from cold foods. Aggressive dieting in this case further lowers metabolism, worsening the yo-yo effect. Often these patterns are mixed—for example, Spleen Deficiency combined with Phlegm-Fluid leads to poor digestion but weight gain, and adding Qi Stagnation can trigger emotional binge eating. If your self-check matches 2–3 items, it is advisable to get a precise diagnosis through abdominal examination (fu zhen) and tongue examination (she zhen) at a Korean medicine clinic. From personal experience, blindly fasting or taking medication without understanding the root cause may result in short-term weight loss, but the constitution is not improved, so the weight returns within three months. A fundamental approach is essential.