Q. I'm struggling to lose specifically belly fat. What are the concrete differences between a general diet and a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) diet?

Many patients visit us wondering why they still have belly fat despite eating very little. This is often not a matter of willpower, but a problem of internal 'stagnation.' In TKM, this is analyzed through the concepts of Dam-eum (痰飮, phlegm-fluid retention) and Eohyeol (瘀血, blood stasis). Dam-eum refers to the accumulation of unnecessary fluids and metabolic waste, while Eohyeol refers to blood that is not circulating properly and has stagnated. When these two accumulate in the abdominal area, you hit a plateau where weight loss becomes difficult regardless of fasting. In particular, if you are in a state of Bi-heo (脾虛, Spleen deficiency/weak digestive function), metabolic efficiency drops sharply, making it easier for belly fat to accumulate. Here is a comparison between general dieting and TKM management: | Category | General Diet (Diet/Exercise) | TKM Diet (Constitutional Customization) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Core Perspective** | Controlling calorie intake and expenditure | Activating metabolism and improving constitution | | **Approach** | Standardized meal plans and exercise routines | Analysis of individual deficiency/excess (Heo-Sil) and prescription | | **Primary Goal** | Reduction of weight numbers | Removal of waste and normalization of metabolic environment | | **Physical Response** | Potential loss of energy during extreme fasting | Aiming to promote metabolism by supplementing physical strength | | **Long-term View** | Heavily reliant on individual willpower | Reducing the possibility of the yo-yo effect by balancing the body | From my own experience and studies, I've found that pushing the body too hard through sheer force often leads to a 'metabolic strike.' Therefore, I recommend an approach that 'soothes the body' while increasing metabolism. It is important to first determine whether your body is burdened by Dam-eum or if you are unable to lose weight due to a severe lack of vital energy.