When you become overweight, you're bound to feel quite uncomfortable inside. After all, being too heavy not only makes clothes look unflattering but also gives you a puffy appearance, making your whole figure seem unattractive. If you want to improve your weight, you need to identify the root cause so you can address the problem effectively and achieve good weight loss results. Therefore, for those struggling with obesity, it's advisable to understand the reasons behind your body's weight gain.
What Causes Obesity?
1. Poor Spleen and Stomach Function Leading to Upper Body Weight Gain
If your spleen and stomach are weak and dysfunctional, the body's fluids and dampness cannot be properly transformed and transported. This leads to the accumulation of phlegm and stagnation within the body.Conversely, if digestion is too rapid and appetite excessively strong, constant hunger may lead to overconsumption of nutrients. Over time, this can cause upper-body obesity.When the liver and gallbladder are impaired, the meridian detoxification process becomes obstructed. This slows fat metabolism, causing toxins to accumulate in the lower body. Since the liver, gallbladder, and kidney meridians all run from top to bottom, prolonged toxin buildup inevitably leads to lower-body weight gain.
3. Abdominal Fat Due to Spleen-Stomach Deficiency and Meridian Blockage
The belt meridian (Dai Mai) runs horizontally between the waist and abdomen—the body's only transverse meridian.When the spleen and stomach are deficient, the belt meridian in the waist and abdomen becomes prone to blockage. This causes multiple meridians throughout the body to become obstructed in the waist and abdominal area, resulting in abdominal obesity. The reason spleen-stomach deficiency leads to abdominal fat is that the spleen governs transformation and transportation. When deficient, it fails to properly transform and transport fluids, causing internal dampness and fluid retention.
4. Gastrointestinal and Cardiopulmonary Issues Leading to Thick Arms
Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that the Heart Meridian and Large Intestine Meridian primarily traverse the upper limbs. If these meridians become obstructed, toxins within the body can accumulate, leading to arm obesity and increasing thickness.
5. Obstructed Bladder Meridian Leading to Back Fat
The Bladder Meridian contains over 60 acupoints. This meridian serves as the body's natural barrier against external wind and cold, while also functioning as a detoxification pathway.Prolonged sitting without movement causes stiffness in the back, shoulders, and neck. Over time, this leads to blockages in the back meridians, severely impacting metabolism and causing significant fat accumulation in the back area.
Additionally, neglecting warmth and seeking coolness in daily life can expose the back to cold, obstructing the bladder meridian. This prevents internal toxins from being expelled promptly, slowing fat metabolism and ultimately leading to back fat accumulation.
How to Lose Weight Effectively
1. Acupuncture
After diagnosing the cause of obesity, treatment can be tailored to your constitution to help improve your condition. For example, acupuncture for weight loss involves identifying specific acupoints that need strengthening or stimulation based on your body type, thereby enhancing metabolic function.Note: Acupuncture isn't suitable for everyone. Before choosing this method, assess your constitution and discuss your health concerns with a practitioner. They can determine if acupuncture is appropriate for your condition.
2. Tuina Massage
Blocked meridians contribute to obesity. To address this, unblocking meridians through techniques like Tuina massage is beneficial.When choosing massage for weight loss, seek a professional practitioner at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital. Smaller beauty salons may lack proper certification, and unqualified practitioners could worsen meridian blockages instead of aiding weight loss.