Many people feel frustrated when their weight doesn't change as easily after entering menopause, even though they've reduced their diet and exercise as they did before. Among those who come for a consultation on traditional Korean medicine diet, there are quite a few who say, "I'm definitely eating less, but my body feels more bloated and heavier." In such cases, it's important to look beyond just the amount of food consumed and consider body fat, edema, digestive state, stress and sleep, and menopausal symptoms.
The key is not 'how quickly you lose weight' but understanding why your body isn't responding well to weight loss. Especially during menopause, metabolic changes, edema, and appetite changes can overlap, and if you focus solely on the numbers on the scale, it can lead to repeated yo-yo effects and decreased energy.
During menopause, your body's response changes before your weight does
The difficulty of menopause diet is often due to a combination of constitution, eating habits, and living environment rather than a single explanation. If your body feels heavy and swollen despite reducing your diet, it's important to distinguish whether it's due to increased fat or if edema is accompanying due to poor fluid metabolism. A lifestyle of sitting or standing for long periods, frequent consumption of salty and sweet foods, chronic indigestion, and constipation can also slow down weight loss.
From a Western medicine perspective, it's important to check whether metabolic issues like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes accompany being overweight. If you've already had related tests, bringing your blood test results to your consultation can help in planning your current weight management. However, if diseases that can cause edema, like liver or kidney diseases, are suspected, checking and treating those conditions should come first.
In traditional Korean medicine, both dampness and circulation stagnation are considered
In traditional Korean medicine, it's believed that individuals whose bodies easily accumulate dampness and have weak energy metabolism are vulnerable to obesity and metabolic issues. Particularly, if chronic indigestion or constipation exists, dampness, which is stagnant waste in the body, can accumulate, leading to a heavy and easily swollen body. Stress leading to binge eating or craving sweet foods is also seen as a hindrance to weight loss.
The perspective of toxins and the yo-yo effect is also considered. If you drastically reduce the amount you eat, your weight may temporarily decrease, but if your body's circulation and digestion functions can't keep up, the weight may rebound. Therefore, at Hoechundang Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic, we determine the direction of Weight Management · Edema treatment by looking at not just weight but also edema, metabolic state, and digestive state.
If only certain areas don't lose weight, consider edema and cellulite
After menopause, some people feel that specific areas like the abdomen, thighs, arms, and sides don't lose weight easily. In such cases, it's not just an issue of fat but could be a state where edema, fat, and connective tissue changes accumulate in areas with stagnant qi and lymph circulation. This is explained in terms of localized obesity and cellulite.
If the weight has slightly decreased but the body line hasn't changed much, or if a bloated and heavy feeling persists, edema management might be necessary. However, it's not possible to determine the cause just by the appearance of swelling. Checking the body composition and body water state to distinguish between fat excess and fluid metabolism abnormality is the first step.
During consultation, body fat, body water, and energy state are checked together
Before consultation, the InBody S10 Detailed Body Composition and Body Water Analysis is conducted to examine body fat percentage, muscle loss, body water balance, and nutritional status. This test helps distinguish whether there is an excess of fat or if fluid metabolism abnormalities like edema are present. InBody measurement data is also referenced for cell health status, and it's checked whether energy levels don't drop excessively during weight loss.
The Iris Genetic Constitution Test is used to examine physical and mental factors that hinder dieting. During prolonged stagnation, susceptibility of pancreatic function related to insulin metabolism, and whether circulation and detoxification are compromised, are considered to adjust the plan. The Ryodoraku Meridian Function Test measures meridian function at acupoints on the hands and feet to assess overall energy levels and deficiency or excess.
The HRV Autonomic Nervous System Test checks the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Obesity and appetite changes can be affected by stress, depression, and tension states, so checking the autonomic nervous system state is helpful. Long-term and short-term goals are set based on weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and cell health, and regular InBody tests and diet management are conducted concurrently.
At home, create repeatable habits rather than starving
The most important thing to avoid in menopause diet is the pattern of losing weight rapidly in a short period and then regaining it. Excessive fasting is difficult to maintain and can lead to decreased energy or binge eating. Lifestyle management should not only aim at weight reduction but also focus on stabilizing digestion, edema, sleep, and stress responses.
- Meals should be regular at consistent times rather than being skipped, and portion sizes should not be excessively reduced.
- Frequency of salty and sweet foods should be reduced as they can worsen edema and binge eating patterns.
- On days of prolonged sitting or standing, light walking and leg movements should be done intermittently to aid circulation.
- If constipation and indigestion are frequent, check meal speed, night snack consumption, and overeating.
- If stress leads to binge eating, keep a record of meals and emotional states to find the cause.
- If sleep is irregular, appetite control can become difficult, so maintain a consistent bedtime.
Herbal medicine diet consultations progress step by step according to the condition
In a Korean medicine clinic consultation, constitution and current state are checked to prescribe One-on-One Personalized Diet Herbal Medicine. If overweight is accompanied by metabolic syndrome, menopause syndrome, systemic joint and muscle pain, indigestion, or irregular menstruation, these factors are considered in determining the prescription direction. Herbal medicine is tailored to assist with appetite control, body fat breakdown, muscle loss reduction, and management of dampness and edema.
In cases where toxins and dampness are significantly accumulated, Weight Management Detox Decoction may be considered. Rather than requiring excessive fasting, a realistically sustainable approach is taken, and constipation or edema, which can arise during the weight loss process, is also considered. Bigam Capsule or Mega Bigamjeong, developed by the In-House Herbal Medicine Research Lab, is a capsule-type diet herbal medicine prescribed in stages of 1 month or 3 months, depending on body weight and lifestyle and eating habits.
Acupuncture, electroacupuncture for fat breakdown, and moxibustion can be combined while monitoring digestive disorders or constipation in the abdomen, and reduced qi and blood circulation. Wild Ginseng Obesity Pharmacopuncture is guided as a method that can help with fat breakdown and lymph circulation management by using a precise amount on the concerned areas. For areas with cellulite accumulation or sagging lines, consultations on body threading, a management method using dissolvable threads, can be sought alongside fat breakdown treatment. The number and combination of treatments depend on the individual's stamina, degree of edema, and lifestyle pattern.
If there is sudden severe swelling or pain, hospital consultation is needed first
Even during dieting, if symptoms differ from usual, safety checks should take precedence over weight management. Especially if one leg suddenly swells severely or is accompanied by pain and a warm sensation, consultation should not be delayed. If there is shortness of breath, chest pain, or sudden swelling of the face and limbs, internal medicine or emergency room consultation is needed first.
If urine output suddenly decreases, severe abdominal pain and vomiting recur, or consciousness becomes blurred, 119 or emergency room services should be used. If there are underlying conditions like liver or kidney disease or if on related medications, be sure to inform the medical team before starting diet herbal medicine or pharmacopuncture. Do not arbitrarily reduce or stop Western medications and consult with the medical team.
Frequently Asked Questions
During menopause, do I have to eat less to lose weight?
Simply eating less is difficult to maintain for long and can lead to decreased energy or binge eating. After checking current body fat and body water condition, digestion, constipation, and edema patterns, it's best to manage regular meals and portion control together.
How can I distinguish between weight gain and swelling?
It's difficult to distinguish just by appearance or weight. Detailed body composition and body water analysis is used to separate excess body fat and fluid metabolism abnormalities, and based on the results, a plan is made whether to focus on weight loss or include edema management.
Can anyone receive pharmacopuncture or threading?
Pharmacopuncture and threading are consulted after checking the area of concern, degree of edema, skin and stamina condition, and presence of underlying conditions. They are not applied in the same way to everyone, and the need and suitability are assessed during consultation before deciding on the procedure.
How long do I take Bigam Capsule?
Bigam Capsule can be taken in stages of 1 month or 3 months, depending on current body weight and lifestyle and eating habits. The duration of use and composition can vary based on individual condition, so it's best to decide after consultation.
Just because a diet isn't working well during menopause doesn't mean it's just a lack of willpower. It's important to first check whether the weight gain is due to excess fat, edema and fluid metabolism issues, or overlapping digestive and stress factors. At Hoechundang Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic, after examining the current body condition, Weight Management · Edema consultation is provided to discuss necessary methods such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, heat therapy, and threading. Rather than starting excessively, it's advisable to consult with the medical team based on your current test results and lifestyle patterns to plan what's suitable for you.
※ Notice This article aims to provide general health and medical information, and the applicability and results may vary depending on individual health conditions. Accurate diagnosis and determination of tests and procedures should be decided after consulting with the medical team.