Overweight and weight management
Overweight means that more body fat has been stored than could be desirable for health. In obesity, this fat storage has increased more and some health risks are increased. However, not everyone who is struggling with their weight is obese. Also gradual weight gain, repeated weight gain after weight loss or difficulty in maintaining a achieved weight may be reasons to work with weight control.
Weight is influenced by many factors. Nutrition and movement are important, but also hereditary predisposition, age, sleep, stress, hormones, certain conditions and medication can play a part.
Within Chinese medicine, we also look at the overall picture of complaints. Two people with the same weight or BMI can therefore have a different pattern according to TCM and be treated differently.
Complaints and characteristics that may be associated with overweight
Overweight does not automatically cause symptoms. Some people feel well physically, while others experience various complaints associated with weight or with factors that make weight control more difficult.
Examples are:
- difficulty in losing weight or maintaining weight loss;
- strong appetite, appetite or need for sweetness;
- fatigue and low energy;
- shortness of breath during exercise;
- moisture retention or strongly variable weight;
- bloating and other digestive problems;
- poor sleep or sleep apnea;
- pain or overload of knees, hips or other joints.
Obesity increases the risk of various health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and joint problems.
Possible causes
Weight increases when more energy is consumed over time than the body consumes. However, why this energy balance arises and why it is harder for one person to lose weight or keep it stable than the other, can vary considerably.
Nutrition, physical activity and daily habits play an important role. In addition, hereditary predisposition, age, sleep, prolonged stress and hormonal changes can affect. Also disorders such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome and PCOS and certain medicines can promote weight gain.
Repeated strict lines can also make weight control more complicated. For example, the TCM source describes a pattern in which periods of highly restrictive eating are followed by weight gain. Within TCM this is seen as a possible burden on the digestive function and ultimately on Qi and Yang.
How can acupuncture help with overweight and weight management?
Acupuncture can be added to weight control. The treatment is tailored to factors that are at the forefront of the individual client and to the underlying TCM pattern.
Acupuncture is not a substitute for appropriate nutrition and sufficient movement. Therefore, the treatment does not focus simply on burning feline fat, but for example on complaints and body functions associated with the weight problem according to TCM.
Depending on the picture of complaints, treatment may be directed at:
- support digestive function;
- regulation of strong appetite and food stagnation;
- Dampness and Phlegm reduce when feeling heavy and fluid retention;
- Spleen-Qi support for fatigue and digestive weakness;
- Support slit and kidney yang in cold, low energy and fluid retention;
- Liver-Qi regulation when stress and tension affect eating behaviour or digestion;
- improve Qi and Blood flow in case of stagnation.
How can Chinese herbal medicine help with overweight and weight management?
Also Chinese herbs are not simply prescribed to lose weight. The choice is based on the underlying TCM pattern and the complaints that are present in addition.
For example, a person with high appetite, reflux and a warm feeling requires a different approach than someone who eats little but is tired and convulsive and easily retains moisture.
Depending on the pattern, Chinese herbal medicine can be aimed at:
- Reducing Stomach-Heat and food tagging;
- Transform Dampness and Phlegm;
- Enhance Spleen-Qi and support digestion;
- Support Spleen & Kidney-Yang;
- Feed Liver and Kidney-Yin when a deficiency patterns is present;
- Qi regulate and support the circulation of Blood.
Herbs can be used daily between acupuncture treatments. The treatment can be adjusted when, for example, digestion, fluid retention, energy or other characteristics change.
How does Chinese medicine view overweight and weight management?
Within TCM, weight gain is not explained from one cause. Especially the Spleen and Stomach play an important role because these organ systems are considered responsible for processing nutrition and forming and spreading Qi and body fluids.
When this function weakens, TCM Dampness and Phlegm may occur. These are terms for a disturbance in which moisture and other substances are not sufficiently processed and accumulate. For example, overweight can prevent heavy feeling, fluid retention, fatigue and digestive problems.
The Liver helps the free flow of Qi within TCM. Long-term stress and Liver-Qi stagnation can interfere with digestive function and contribute to Dampness and Phlegm. Long-term stagnation can also cause Heat.
The kidney becomes especially relevant in long-term complaints, ageing and deeper Yin or Yang deficiency. For example, in Yang deficiency cold, fatigue and fluid retention are more prominent. Yin deficiency can be associated with dryness and heat phenomena.
Qi and Blood must also be able to circulate freely. TCM and Blood stasis indicate that if overweight is prolonged, other patterns may become complicated.
It is important that changes on the scale do not always reflect changes in body fat. Especially in patterns with Dampness and fluid retention, body weight can fluctuate relatively quickly because the amount of moisture changes.
What is a TCM organ system?
A TCM organ system describes a group of related body functions and is wider than just the anatomical organ with the same name. Read more at TCM basics .
What is a TCM pattern?
A TCM pattern is a recognizable combination of complaints and physical characteristics that indicates which imbalance is likely to contribute to the complaints. Read more at TCM basics .
The most common overweight patterns are discussed below. Other patterns are possible and multiple patterns can occur at the same time. This allows you to recognize yourself in different descriptions. Also, not everyone with the same pattern has all the characteristics mentioned. The pattern is determined on the basis of the overall complaint image.
Most common TCM patterns
Stomach Heat with Food stagnation
Brief explanation
This is a relatively excessive pattern in which much or heavy food according to TCM leads to food tagging and Heat in the Stomach and intestines. The appetite is often strong and digestive symptoms are at the forefront. If this pattern exists for a long time, Dampness and Phlegm can develop and eventually weaken the Spleen.
Common symptoms
- strong appetite and easy to eat too much;
- bloated or tense abdomen;
- reflux, heartburn or many belching;
- bad breath or bitter taste;
- thirst;
- constipation or variation between constipation and diarrhoea;
- strong smelling stool;
- sweating;
- fatigue and daytime sleepiness;
- bad sleep or sleep apnea.
According to the TCM source, this pattern may have a tendency to store body fat relatively more around the abdomen and upper body .
Examples of Western disorders
This pattern can be found in overweight and obesity where high energy intake and strong appetite are at the forefront. Additional Dampness Heat may also present metabolic complaints.
Phlegm-Dampness
Brief explanation
At Phlegm-Dampness, nutrition and body fluids are not sufficiently processed according to TCM. This creates a heavy and humid picture of complaints. This pattern can be partly constitutional and regularly coincides with Spleen weakness and Liver-Qi stagnation.
Common symptoms
- feeling heavy or lame in the body;
- sleepiness, especially after eating;
- bloating;
- the need for sweetness;
- mucus in throat or airway;
- thick or swollen fingers;
- dizziness or feeling foggy in the head;
- alternating bowel movements;
- sometimes fluid retention.
According to the source, this pattern may have a tendency to store weight and body fat relatively more around the lower abdomen, hips and upper legs.
Examples of Western disorders
This pattern is associated in the source with obesity and overweight and can occur in women with PCOS. That does not mean that PCOS is automatically Phlegm-Dampness within TCM.
Spleen-Qi-deficiency
Brief explanation
According to TCM, the processing of food and liquids has been weakened at Spleen-Qi deficiency. This allows Dampness and moisture to accumulate more easily. Loss can be difficult because fatigue makes movement difficult and the weight can fluctuate relatively strongly due to fluid retention.
Common symptoms
- fatigue and low energy;
- weak or rapidly tired muscles;
- sleepiness after eating;
- low appetite or varying appetite;
- the need for sweetness;
- bloated abdomen;
- soft or slow stools;
- easy moisture retention;
- weight that can fluctuate relatively quickly;
- shortness of breath during exercise;
- bleach or some set-up looks.
Examples of Western disorders
The source describes this pattern in case of overweight fluid retention and in people with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. These Western diagnoses are not the same as Spleen-Qi deficiency and can also occur in other TCM patterns.
Spleen- and Kidney-Yang-deficiency
Brief explanation
This is a deeper deficiency patterns in which according to TCM there is insufficient heating and activating Yang to support well the digestion and processing of liquids. The source describes that this may occur, among other things, after prolonged digestive weakness and repeated very restrictive diets.
Common symptoms
- difficulty in losing weight despite relatively limited appetite;
- pronounced fatigue and lack of motivation;
- Curvature;
- cold hands and feet;
- weakness of muscles;
- bloated but rather weak belly;
- chronic diarrhoea with undigested food or slow stools;
- fluid retention;
- frequent urination or passing urine at night;
- weak or painful lower back and legs.
In this pattern part of the increased or varying body weight may be associated with fluid retention.
Examples of Western disorders
The source mentions hypothyroidism and PCOS as conditions in which such a TCM pattern can be found. This does not mean that these diseases are caused by Yang deficiency or always associated with this pattern.
Liver- and Kidney-Yin-deficiency
Brief explanation
Yin has a nourishing, humidifying and cooling function within TCM. This pattern is described in the source especially in case of longer overweight and relatively often in women after menopause. It can occur after prolonged Dampness-Heat or other factors that exhaust Yin.
Common symptoms
- dry skin and mucous membranes;
- dry mouth and night thirst;
- constipation;
- night sweats;
- heat sensation or hot flushes;
- redness of the face;
- dry or irritated eyes and blurred vision;
- headache, irritability or dizziness;
- tinnitus;
- weak or painful lower back and knees.
According to the TCM source, this pattern may tend to increase fat storage around the hull while arms and legs remain relatively slimmer .
Examples of Western disorders
This pattern is especially described in the case of long-term overweight in middle and older age and can be found for example around or after menopause.
Qi- and Blood stasis
Brief explanation
Qi- and Blood stasis is mainly seen in the source as a pattern that can develop during prolonged overweight on top of other imbalances. The circulation of Qi and Blood is then reduced according to TCM. Phlegm-Dampness, Heat or deficiency may remain present at the same time.
Common symptoms
- long-term overweight;
- relatively high abdominal fat;
- pain or load of hips and knees;
- shortness of breath during exercise;
- chest tightness or tightness, if any;
- varicose veins or visible small blood vessels;
- dark or mottled appearance of the skin;
- dry or scaly skin of the lower legs;
- darker or purpleish lips.
According to the source there may be a tendency to centralise fat storage around the abdomen with this pattern.
Examples of Western disorders
This pattern is particularly described in the source for long-term obesity involving cardiovascular or circulatory problems. Such complaints obviously also require conventional medical assessment and treatment.
Nutrition, movement and weight control
Nutrition and movement form the basis of weight control, which does not need to be aimed at losing as much weight as possible as quickly as possible. An approach that can be maintained in the longer term is more important than a short-term strict diet.
The TCM source also warns about a recurring cycle of highly restrictive food and re-entry. From TCM, the nutritional approach can also be adapted to the pattern. With strong Stomach Heat and excessive appetite, for example, the emphasis is different from that of someone with low appetite, fatigue and Spleen-Yang deficiency.
Regular movement not only supports energy consumption, but also condition, muscle mass and metabolic health. The shape and intensity can be adjusted to the capacity for activity. With little energy or joint problems can be built up quietly.
Weight is not the only measure of progress. Also middle circumference, condition, energy, sleep, diet and metabolic health can show relevant changes.
Outlook
Weight control is usually a long-term process. How easily weight can be lost and then retained differs per person and depends among other things on the degree of overweight, duration of complaints, lifestyle, age, possible underlying conditions, medication and personal situation.
In the first phase, weight can sometimes change relatively quickly due to fluid loss. This is not the same as loss of body fat. A gradual change in body fat and the development of long-lasting habits usually require more time.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used during this process and adapted to changes in, for example, digestion, energy, fluid retention and the underlying TCM pattern. The treatment frequency can be adjusted during the course.
Contact
Do you have trouble losing weight, arrive easily after weight loss or want support in achieving and maintaining a healthier weight? During a first consultation we discuss among others your weight progression, diet, digestion, energy, sleep, movement and any other complaints.
Based on the overall complaint picture, it is considered which TCM pattern is likely to be at the forefront and whether acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine can be used appropriately as a supplement to nutrition, movement and any regular treatment.
In case of unexplained or rapid weight gain, or if possible an underlying condition or medication is involved, it is advisable to have conventional medical assessment.