Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution classification for obesity: Qi deficiency, phlegm-dampness, and phlegm-dampness with blood stasis.

Fat (oil fat) is also present in the normal human body; it is one of the substances that make up the body.

What is derived from food and water represents the body's reserves of nutrients. The formation of fats and lipids is primarily related to the spleen and stomach.

The functions of the spleen and stomach are closely related; if the spleen and stomach function well, their ability to transform and transport food and water is vigorous, thus enabling them to process large amounts of food.

The food is digested and absorbed, and then transformed into fats and oils.

Li Gao stated in "Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach: On the Rise and Fall of the Spleen and Stomach":

"When both the spleen and stomach are strong, one can eat a lot and become fat; when both the spleen and stomach are weak, one cannot eat and becomes thin; or one can eat little but become fat, though fat..."

"The inability to move the limbs is due to a strong spleen and excessive pathogenic factors," clearly indicating that regardless of whether an obese person eats a lot or a little,

There may be a condition of "spleen excess"-a state of vigorous digestion and absorption. This relates to the various functions of the body's internal organs.

Exercise will continuously deplete stored fat.

Under normal circumstances, a dynamic balance is maintained between the production and consumption of lipids, ensuring the body's lipid levels remain stable.

The fat should be maintained at a proper level. If this balance is disrupted, too much fat will be produced or lost.

If the body consumes too little fat, the amount of lipids in the body will be excessive. Anything in excess is harmful; excess lipids will accumulate and cause problems.

Within the body, it affects the body's normal functions, thus transforming phlegm and fat into a pathological product-phlegm and turbidity.

(Phlegm and dampness).

For obese individuals, the factors include excessive fat production and insufficient fat consumption.

All elements may exist in the body, but they may be dominant in one aspect.

Whether it's bloating or true obesity, a strong appetite is common, while poor appetite is rare. However, true obesity...

Many obese individuals enjoy sweets, are energetic, and experience few clinical discomforts, indicating that true obesity is a common symptom of obesity.

The main cause is overeating; however, among those who are overweight due to "puffiness," those with a light diet are more common than those who are actually overweight, and various clinical discomforts are observed.

Symptoms are common, with fatigue, cold intolerance, and cold hands and feet being particularly prominent, indicating that the qi transformation function of those who are overweight due to edema is impaired.

Weakened function and poor overall health are contributing factors to obesity, including not only dietary factors but also a weakened ability to transform and metabolize qi.

Important reasons.

Furthermore, obese people often have phlegm and dampness, and blood stasis, which can be considered a basic understanding of the characteristics of obese patients in traditional Chinese medicine.

Most obese people have a phlegm-dampness constitution, and often phlegm and blood stasis are present together. Studies have found that among those who are obese due to phlegm accumulation...

The symptoms of phlegm-dampness and blood stasis are more prominent in those who are overweight due to excess, which also indicates that the body's qi transformation function is weaker in those who are overweight due to deficiency.

Weakness indicates abnormal metabolism of body fluids; while those who are truly obese, although due to overeating, also have phlegm and dampness in their bodies.

There is blood stasis, but the body's qi transformation function is still good, and it can compensate by maintaining the metabolism of qi and body fluids. Therefore, it is clinically effective.

The bed performance was not outstanding.

Those who are overweight due to solidity tend to have phlegm-dampness syndrome, while those who are overweight due to deficiency tend to have water-dampness syndrome, with water-dampness being more yin in nature.

The syndrome of phlegm-dampness with a predominance of yang further indicates that the yang qi used for qi transformation is deficient in obese individuals. In addition, obesity...

The significantly higher age of onset in obese individuals compared to those who are actually obese also reflects, from another perspective, the overall gas transformation function of both types of obesity.

The difference in strength.

In summary, the "excess" and "deficiency" aspects of simple obesity refer to the strength of the body's overall qi transformation function.

Weakness refers not to the deficiency or excess of the Qi in a particular organ.

How to determine the TCM constitution type of obesity

Based on ancient records and research on traditional Chinese medicine constitution theory, we have identified three most common types of obesity.

The types are phlegm-dampness type, qi deficiency type, and phlegm-dampness with blood stasis type.

(1) Phlegm-dampness type obesity

The main symptoms are heaviness, fatigue, and drowsiness, accompanied by slightly puffy eyelids, a preference for rich and sweet foods, and restless sleep.

Snoring is a secondary symptom. The Song Dynasty physician Yang Renzhai, in his *Renzhai Zhizhi Fang* (Direct Explanation of Prescriptions from Renzhai), states in the section on the differentiation of fire and dampness: "Obese people have weak qi..."

"Coldness generates dampness, dampness generates phlegm...therefore, obese people often suffer from cold and dampness"; Zhu Danxi of the Yuan Dynasty first proposed the concept of "obese and fair-skinned people"

The view that "many people have phlegm and dampness"; Chen Xiuyuan said: "Generally speaking, those with a strong constitution have no suffering, but they are prone to phlegm and dampness."

"Many"; Zhang Yuqing's medical case records even explicitly state that "those with a plump physique tend to have more dampness and phlegm." We often see this...

People with large bellies, oily faces, and snoring while sleeping are considered to have phlegm-dampness type obesity. Modern research...

Research has found that phlegm-dampness type obesity is a breeding ground for metabolic diseases, and it is also the most common type of obesity.

One type.

(2) Obesity due to Qi deficiency

The main symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath, reluctance to speak, and sweating upon exertion, accompanied by dizziness, palpitations, and susceptibility to colds.

This is a secondary symptom. The Qing Dynasty text *Shi Shi Mi Lu* states, "Obese people often have phlegm, which is due to qi deficiency; when qi is deficient, it does not circulate properly."

Therefore, phlegm is generated from it," emphasizing the relationship between phlegm and dampness formation and qi deficiency in obese individuals; Ye Tianshi of the Qing Dynasty pointed out:

"A person with soft, white skin is likely suffering from qi deficiency. While outwardly appearing plump, inwardly they are truly weak, likely due to yang deficiency, which manifests as excessive phlegm and dampness."

As we discussed earlier, obesity is a case of deficiency in the root and excess in the branch. Therefore, obesity caused by qi deficiency is characterized primarily by deficiency.

Now, although he is fat, his flesh is rather loose, and he looks tired and weak.

(3) Obesity due to phlegm-dampness and blood stasis

The main symptoms include forgetfulness, dull complexion, and dark lips, along with rough skin and facial...

"Paper rolls" and pain in a certain part of the body are secondary symptoms. The *Huangdi Neijing Lingshu* states: "Obese people..."

The flesh is thin, the skin thick, and black... its blood is black and turbid, and its qi is astringent and slow. The *Jingyue Quanshu* states: "Body fluids..."

This excess blood circulates outside the vessels, flowing throughout the body... If the blood and qi are turbid, they will condense and form phlegm. (Obesity)

Over time, metabolic disorders of waste products in the body can lead to their accumulation, often resulting in phlegm and blood stasis. Therefore, this type of skin condition in obese people...

The complexion is dark, there are blood vessels or spots on the face, and the purplish veins can be seen when the tongue is curled up.