Robert Lustig argues ultra-processed food, especially sugar, is addictive and drives weight gain beyond simple calorie math. He points to BMI increases at the same caloric intake between 1988 and 2006, and explains how body weight set point and developmental programming complicate the obesity story.
Chapters
We know that consumption of ultra processed food does cause weight gain because it causes overeating because in fact sugar is addictive and so if sugar is in everything well that's why you eat more therefore it's still about calories. So the support said. But there are a whole bunch of challenges. There are a whole bunch of refutations to this model as well. Here's one. For any given caloric intake BMI was higher in 2006 compared to 1988 at any given BMI in it doesn't address this concept of developmental programming which we have learned in pediatrics is extremely important. This concept that something is going on in utero weight loss does not last because the body defends a set point. If it were only about calories that shouldn't be true. Exercise does not induce weight loss. It induces fat loss but induces muscle gain. But if you're burning more than you're taking in you should lose weight, right? Well it turns out that's not true.