Q. I have skinny fat syndrome; can I fix this with exercise alone, or are there specific situations where herbal medicine is necessary?

Many people with 'skinny fat' syndrome appear thin on the outside but have high visceral fat and low muscle mass, resulting in a significantly lowered metabolic rate. If you have sufficient energy and can control your appetite, exercising to increase your basal metabolic rate through muscle growth is the standard approach. However, Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) is necessary in the following cases: First, in cases of Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛). When the function of the Spleen is weakened, nutrients are not properly absorbed or transported. In this state, exercise may increase fatigue without effectively building muscle. Prescriptions to improve digestive and absorptive functions must come first. Second, when there is stagnation of Phlegm-Fluid (Dameum, 痰飮) and Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血). These metabolic waste products obstruct circulation, slowing down fat burning and making the body feel heavy regardless of activity. Clearing these 'residues' first is essential to improve exercise efficiency. In short, if exercise is like 'running the engine,' herbal medicine is like 'cleaning the grime and oiling the engine.' We recommend checking if your body is physically prepared to handle the demands of exercise first.