Obesity is more than just being overweight. People are considered to be obese if they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. (Those who are overweight have a BMI of 25 to 29.9) Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, some types of cancer, and even dementia later in life. Despite the health risks, it can be very difficult to shed extra pounds, and keep them off.

1. Accumulation of Heat in the Spleen and Stomach    
Chief Manifestations: Polyphagia, polyorexia, fat physique, abdominal fullness and distention, rosy cheeks, dry mouth with bitter taste, restlessness, dizziness, burning pain and upset in the stomach relieved after eating, red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, wiry and smooth pulse.

2. Dysfunction of the Spleen in Transportation
Chief Manifestations: Fat physique, listlessness, lassitude, bodily heaviness, chest distress and abdominal distention, slight edema of limbs which is alleviated in the morning and aggravated in the evening and after overwork, normal or impaired appetite, indulgence in eating and drinking, dysuria, loose stools or constipation, swollen pale tongue with teeth marks on its margin, thin and white or white and greasy coating, soft-superficial and thready pulse.

3. Internal Retention of Phlegm    
Chief Manifestations: Fat physique, bodily heaviness, lassitude of limbs, thoracic fullness, phlegm accumulation, dizziness, vomiting and lack of appetite, dry mouth with no desire for drinking, preference for greasy food and liquor, listlessness and somnolence, white and greasy or white and smooth tongue coating, smooth pulse.

4. Deficiency of Spleen Yang and Kidney Yang
Chief Manifestations: Fat physique, facial edema, listlessness and somnolence, short breath, abdominal distention, loose stools, spontaneous perspiration, dyspnea which becomes worse on exertion, aversion to cold, cold limbs, edema of lower limbs, oliguria during the day and nocturia, pale swollen tongue with thin and white coating, deep and thready pulse.

5. Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis
Chief Manifestations: Full-grown physique, purplish red face or dull red face, chest distress and hypochondric distention, restlessness, irritability, sleeplessness or restless sleep, constipation, purplish red tongue with petechia or ecchymosis, or with engorged sublingual veins, deep and wiry pulse or unsmooth pulse.