Q. I'm controlling my diet using a calorie tracker; what approach does a Korean medicine clinic recommend?

Many people become obsessed with tracking every gram of chicken breast or cherry tomato, but this often leads to dizziness and exhaustion. While calorie counting helps you view your eating habits objectively, it ignores the complex physiological mechanisms of the human body. Even if two people consume 1,500 kcal, one may burn energy efficiently while the other stores it as fat. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this state is often referred to as 'Spleen Deficiency' (Bi-heo, 脾虛). When the function of the Spleen is weak, the body's ability to digest, absorb, and transport nutrients declines, making you feel bloated and heavy even when eating very little. In such cases, prescriptions to strengthen the Spleen are more appropriate than simple fasting. Furthermore, the presence of 'Phlegm-Fluid' (Dameum, 痰飮)—accumulated metabolic waste—and 'Blood Stasis' (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血)—stagnant blood flow—can obstruct metabolic pathways. If these exist, your metabolism slows down, and you will hit a weight-loss plateau quickly regardless of how strictly you limit calories. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. While some constitutions thrive on strict dietary control, others must first boost their metabolic functions. The first step is to determine whether your body is truly 'ready to burn' energy.