Attention, overworked people! Preventing "Winter Melon-type" Obesity

■ Where is fat

Compared with the first three body types, which are mostly locally obese, the winter melon-shaped body type is "comprehensive obesity", with a puffy face, a hunched back, fat on the arms, legs and thighs, and almost no curves. People with this body type do not necessarily eat a lot, but have poor metabolic function, and they rarely exercise (or almost never exercise), so their blood circulation is also poor.

Office workers often face the risk of overwork, so be careful as this may also lead to obesity.

Dr. Morrison pointed out that many types of obesity are related to hypothyroidism, and attention must be paid to the intake of iodine-containing foods in daily life, such as choosing regular table salt (usually with added iodine) rather than blindly following the trend and choosing only non-iodized salt such as sea salt and rock salt. From the perspective of TCM syndrome, winter melon-type obesity is mostly caused by "kidney yang deficiency and phlegm turbidity" or "Qi and blood deficiency" constitution.

Liao Qianhui pointed out that kidney yang deficiency and phlegm turbidity are often caused by spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness (water-drop type obesity) which cannot be adjusted in time, and then step by step into the state of whole body obesity. This type of people are prone to severe edema - the face and eyelids are swollen when they wake up in the morning, and in the afternoon, the water moves all the way down and turns into calf edema. Kidney yang deficiency constitution often leads to menstrual cycle disorders, often accompanied by endocrine disorders. The most common clinical condition is polycystic ovary disease. In severe cases, it may also lead to amenorrhea and premature menopause.

Deficiency of both Qi and blood is commonly known as "overwork obesity". Chen Jianhui pointed out that pale complexion, soft fat, lack of energy, easy dizziness, fatigue, and even panting after a little activity are symptoms of deficiency of both Qi and blood. They have poor appetite and sometimes even eat less deliberately to lose weight, but they still cannot avoid the fate of gaining weight.

■ What wrong habits make you fat

People with kidney yang deficiency and phlegm turbidity constitution like to eat cold foods such as ice cream, cold drinks, vegetable and fruit juice, and sweets, which lead to edema all over the body. Obesity due to deficiency of both Qi and blood is often caused by overwork, which leads to decreased body functions. Some people feel they are too fat and exercise too actively to lose weight. For example, they take flywheel courses for a week and end up feeling weak and having symptoms such as palpitations, nausea, and difficulty breathing. "Their bodies are already insufficient in energy, and strenuous exercise consumes their energy. After doing a strenuous exercise, they may feel drowsy and weak for a month," Chen Jianhui said, shaking his head.

■ How to lose weight through metabolism

"For systemic obesity, 'replenishment' is the key," Chen Jianhui said. Especially for those who have both qi and blood deficiency, who have poor metabolism and weak body, they should start by replenishing qi and blood, and the circulation will improve, and they will lose weight once replenished. Chinese medicine for replenishing qi and blood can include Bazhen Soup, Shiquan Dabu Soup, and Sijunzi Soup. Normally, he is encouraged to cook red beans and ginger. Red beans can replenish blood and reduce edema, while ginger can warm and replenish kinetic energy. The rest of the diet must follow the principles of balance and health, so as to slowly guide the bloated physique back on track.

For general obesity caused by kidney yang deficiency, the focus is on "tonifying the spleen and strengthening the kidney, warming the yang and transforming dampness". Commonly used prescriptions include Jisheng Shenqi Pills and Zhenwu Decoction. Liao Qianhui also emphasized that people should eat less ice cream, cold foods, and sweets to reduce cold and dampness edema in the body.

■ Exercise prescription

Because your body is weak, you should adopt a gradual exercise approach. It is best to choose gentler exercises at the beginning, such as brisk walking, cycling and other aerobic exercises. The time can be gradually increased from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. After the exercise habit is established and combined with a healthy diet, you can challenge intense oxygen-consuming exercises such as flywheels. This can strengthen the muscles in the pelvic area, which is helpful for eliminating edema and burning fat.

■ Chinese medicine diet therapy, acupoint massage

- Recommended foods: pumpkin, onion, leek, basil, red bean, ginger (spicy and warm to boost yang)

Acupoints: Guanyuan (Ren Mai), Hegu, Sanyinjiao

Ginger and cinnamon tea: one qian of cinnamon powder, two slices of ginger, and one qian of licorice. Put all the ingredients into a cup, add 500cc of boiling water, steep for 10 to 15 minutes, and then you can drink it.

This article is excerpted from: "Good metabolism, double slimming" Activating metabolism is the first step to losing weight