Q I'm on the thin side and don't eat greasy food much, so why is my cholesterol high?
A Lipid levels are affected not just by diet but by constitution, genetics, liver cholesterol synthesis, activity level, and stress. So even thin people can have high levels, and especially with a genetic factor, diet alone often won't bring it down.
Detailed Answer
A large portion of cholesterol is not something you eat, but something your body — mainly the liver — makes on its own. So even people with normal or low body weight can have high levels if they genetically synthesize more or their metabolic regulation is disrupted. In cases with a strong genetic factor like familial hypercholesterolemia, diet and exercise alone may not be enough, so medication may be needed — which is why it's important to first identify the exact cause.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
In Korean medicine, even a lean-looking body can accumulate excess if the metabolic strength that processes lipids is weak underneath. The root is not fat, but "reduced metabolism." At Dongjedang, we use pulse diagnosis and consultation to see where a person's metabolism is stalled, and for those not aiming at weight loss, we focus on restoring circulation and lipid metabolism.
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