Q. I keep experiencing the yo-yo effect every time I diet. Is there really a way to lose weight without it coming back?
The key is not simply starving yourself, but restoring your metabolic capacity. Focus on improving your constitution to restore internal physical balance.
📝 Detailed Answer
Regaining weight after a diet is often not due to a lack of willpower, but rather due to the body's homeostasis. When caloric intake is suddenly reduced, the body perceives it as an emergency and attempts to conserve energy more aggressively.
In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this state is often viewed as Spleen Deficiency (脾虛), where the functions of the digestive and absorptive organs are weakened. When your vital energy is low and metabolism stagnates, your body becomes prone to gaining weight even with minimal intake.
💡 Treatment Goal
Rather than forcibly suppressing appetite, we focus on creating an internal environment where the body can naturally burn energy.
- Decreased Basal Metabolic Rate $\rightarrow$ Reduced energy expenditure $\rightarrow$ Weight gain despite low intake
- Blood Stasis (瘀血) $\rightarrow$ Stagnation of blood circulation $\rightarrow$ Delayed waste excretion $\rightarrow$ Edema and weight plateaus
- Psychological Hunger $\rightarrow$ Triggers 'fake hunger' $\rightarrow$ Binge eating $\rightarrow$ Rapid weight rebound
Therefore, instead of indiscriminate fasting, it is essential to identify your constitutional issues first and tailor herbal prescriptions and lifestyle habits accordingly. This allows your body to adapt naturally without triggering a stress response.
Expert Verified
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director
Last reviewed 2026.04.30