Q. Can long-term habits of late-night snacking or binge eating actually cause health problems? I'd like to know about real-life examples.

I once experienced a similar period of irregular eating and late-night snacking due to a busy schedule. I thought I was fine, but eventually, I woke up feeling dizzy and physically exhausted. Through my own experience and clinical practice, I have seen the systemic impact of these habits. From the perspective of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), these habits generate 'Dam-eum' (痰飮, phlegm-fluid retention), which are metabolic waste products resulting from impaired fluid metabolism. When this accumulates, it can lead to 'Eo-hyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis), hindering smooth blood circulation. Specifically, if the body enters a state of 'Bi-heo' (脾虛, Spleen deficiency), the digestive system fails to convert food into energy, allowing toxins to accumulate instead. I recall a patient in their 40s, a corporate employee who dealt with stress through late-night snacking for over a decade. This resulted not only in weight gain but also in chronic inflammation and extreme lethargy—a clear signal that the body could no longer compensate. Binge eating and late-night snacking are often stress responses to 'psychological hunger.' Simply forcing oneself to suppress these urges often leads to a rebound effect. Therefore, rather than absolute fasting, I recommend focusing on restoring damaged metabolic functions to help the body regain its innate ability to self-regulate. It is important to carefully listen to and address the signals your body is sending.