Frustration with weight loss is incredibly common. You've followed all the conventional advice — eating less, moving more — yet your body seems to have its own agenda. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we understand that weight loss isn't simply about calories in versus calories out. Your body is a complex system where energy, digestion, emotions, and circulation all play interconnected roles. When one system is out of balance, it can manifest as stubborn weight that refuses to shift.
TCM practitioners have observed patterns in patients who struggle with weight loss for thousands of years. These patterns reveal underlying imbalances that, once addressed, can finally unlock your body's natural ability to achieve a healthy weight. Let's explore the five most common reasons why you might be struggling.
Spleen Qi Deficiency: Your Digestive Fire is Weak
In TCM, the Spleen (note: this refers to the TCM organ system, not the Western anatomical organ) is responsible for transforming food into usable energy and transporting nutrients throughout your body. When Spleen Qi is deficient, your digestive "fire" is essentially too weak to properly process what you eat.
Instead of converting food into energy, your body stores it. You might eat relatively little yet still gain weight. This is one of the most common patterns we see in our Singapore clinic.
Liver Qi Stagnation: Stress is Sabotaging Your Progress
The Liver in TCM governs the smooth flow of Qi (energy) throughout your body and is closely connected to your emotional state. When you're chronically stressed, frustrated, or emotionally suppressed, Liver Qi becomes stagnant.
This stagnation disrupts your metabolism, triggers emotional eating, and causes weight to accumulate — particularly around the midsection. Sound familiar? Many of our patients recognise this pattern immediately.
Kidney Yang Deficiency: Your Metabolic Engine is Cold
The Kidney Yang is considered the source of all warming energy in your body. It's essentially your metabolic furnace. When Kidney Yang is deficient, your metabolism slows dramatically — you feel cold, tired, and your body hoards calories as if preparing for a famine.
This pattern is particularly common in women over 40 and those who have pushed their bodies too hard with extreme dieting or over-exercising.
Phlegm-Dampness Accumulation: Internal Stagnation
Phlegm-Dampness is perhaps the most direct TCM pattern related to excess weight. When your body cannot properly transform and transport fluids, they accumulate as "dampness." Over time, this dampness thickens into "phlegm" — not just in your respiratory system, but throughout your body.
This pattern creates a heavy, sluggish feeling. The weight feels "stuck," and conventional diets often fail because they don't address the underlying fluid metabolism issue.
Blood Stasis: Poor Circulation Traps Fat
When Blood doesn't flow smoothly, it can stagnate in certain areas. In TCM, this Blood Stasis is associated with stubborn fat deposits that seem immune to diet and exercise — particularly in areas like the thighs, hips, and lower abdomen.
This pattern often develops after physical trauma, surgery, or prolonged periods of inactivity. Improving circulation is key to releasing this stored fat.
How TCM Addresses These Root Causes
The beauty of TCM lies in its personalised approach. Rather than prescribing the same treatment for everyone, a qualified TCM practitioner will identify your specific pattern (or combination of patterns) and create a tailored treatment plan.
This might include:
- Acupuncture to regulate Qi flow, boost metabolism, and reduce cravings
- Herbal medicine to strengthen weak organs and clear stagnation
- Dietary therapy based on your body constitution (not generic calorie counting)
- Lifestyle adjustments to support your body's natural rhythms
Why This Matters in Singapore
Our tropical climate combined with air-conditioned environments, high-stress work culture, and easily available cold drinks creates a perfect storm for Spleen Qi deficiency and Dampness accumulation. Understanding these TCM patterns is particularly relevant for Singaporeans struggling with weight.
Your Next Step
If you recognise yourself in one or more of these patterns, it's worth exploring TCM as part of your weight loss journey. Unlike quick fixes that address only symptoms, TCM works to restore your body's fundamental balance — creating sustainable, long-term results.
At Aimin, we begin every weight loss journey with a comprehensive TCM assessment to identify your unique pattern. From there, we create a personalised treatment plan that works with your body, not against it.
Ready to Discover Your Body Pattern?
Book a TCM consultation to understand why your body has been resisting weight loss — and how to finally achieve lasting results.
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