When we interpret qi and blood stagnation and abdominal masses from Donguibogam through the lens of modern medicine, they can be seen not merely as accumulated fat, but as the result of complex biochemical and hormonal disruption occurring deep within our bodies. Subcutaneous fat, commonly referred to as love handles, may seem less dangerous at first glance than visceral fat, but chronically accumulated subcutaneous fat also sends various signals throughout the body.
The core issue is chronic inflammation. When the circulation of qi and blood stagnates in the body, cellular stress is triggered, leading to the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines induce inflammatory responses in adipose tissue, ultimately leading to adipocyte dysfunction. In other words, belly fat is not simply the product of excess energy, but a vicious cycle that serves as both the consequence and the cause of chronic inflammation in the body. This inflammation triggers insulin resistance, which in turn impairs blood glucose regulation and becomes the primary culprit promoting fat accumulation. When insulin resistance develops, the body secretes more insulin, and this excess insulin sends a powerful signal to fat cells to store fat.
Furthermore, hormonal imbalance exerts a major influence. It is well known that chronically elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol increase abdominal fat accumulation. In women, estrogen imbalance, particularly estrogen dominance resulting from perimenopause or exposure to endocrine disruptors, can also worsen fat accumulation in the lower abdomen and around the waist. Reduced sensitivity to the appetite-regulating hormones leptin and ghrelin is another problem. When leptin resistance develops, the brain continues to perceive that the body is hungry even when sufficient energy is present.
Gut health cannot be overlooked either. Gut dysbiosis, including leaky gut syndrome, allows inflammatory substances to penetrate into the bloodstream through the intestinal barrier, leading to a systemic inflammatory response and metabolic disorder that contribute to abdominal fat accumulation. In addition, when lymphatic circulation, which processes bodily waste, is impaired, fluids and toxins stagnate within adipose tissue, making belly fat even firmer and harder to lose, much like a clogged drain.
In conclusion, love handles that refuse to budge despite exercise and fasting are not merely a fat problem. They should be understood as warning signs sent by breakdowns across complex internal systems, including chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, gut health issues, and lymphatic circulation disorder. This is precisely why caloric restriction alone makes it difficult to resolve the issue. Modern medicine, much like Donguibogam, tells us that a fundamental approach restoring balance to the entire body is necessary.
