Syndrome differentiation and treatment
The pathogenesis of obesity is due to weakened body resistance and excess of pathogenic factors. Therefore, the main therapeutic principles are strengthening the spleen yang to promote transportation and transformation, removing food retention to promote digestion, resolving phlegm and eliminating dampness by diuresis. Acupuncture and moxibustion, tuina, diet control, physicl exercise, etc. may be jointly applied to treat the disease.

1. Phlegm and dampness due to asthenic spleen    
Main symptoms and signs: Extremely fat body, lassitude, heaviness in the head and body, tastelessness, abdomninal fullness, or chest distress, short breath, edema lower limbs, poor appetite, loose stools, scanty urine, pale and enlarged tongue with thin and greasy fur, deep and slippery pulse. 　　
Therapeutic methods: Strengthening the spleen to resolve phlegm, warming the middle energizer to eliminate dampness.

2. Stomach heat and obstruction of dampness   
Main sympotoms: Extremely fat body, head distension, vertigo, polyorexia, laziness, thirst, foul breath, red tongue with greasy and yellowish fur, slippery and rapid pulse.  
Therapeutic methods: Clearing away heat from the stomach and eliminating dampness to remove edema.

3. Yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney     
Main sympotoms and signs: Puffiness, cold body and limbs, aching pain of lumbus, flaccid legs , polyorexia, scanty urine, profuse stools or loose stools, pale and enlarged tongue with whitish and slippery fur, deep and slow pulse.  
Therapeutic methods: Warming and replenishing the spleen and kidney, activating yang to remove dampness.

4. Internal heat due to yin deficiency     
Main symptoms and signs: Obesity, dizziness, blurred vision lumbago with aching pain and weakness, dysphoria with feverish chest, palms and soles, low fever, red tongue with thin fur, thready and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Nourishing yin and blood, reducing fat to control obesity.