In the last few months I read two books on this topic, and both (if I recalled correctly) mentioned The Biggest Loser (or similar).
Exercised - Daniel E Lieberman
https://www.npr.org/2021/01/05/953249677/exercised-explains-...
Burn - Herman Pontzer (who I believe was a student of Lieberman's)
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-human-metabol...
Both a fairly dry and academic, but do get into the weeds if that's your thing.
A third book that's related but is an easier more entertaining read is "The Comfort Crisis" but Michael Easter.
https://eastermichael.com/book/
Easter actually interviews / quotes Lieberman.
The gist of all three...from an evolutionary perspective, the human body is designed for lean caloric times. When there is more calories than there is activity to burn it, those calories will be stored as fat (in preparation for leaner times). There's no ceiling on that so you'll keep adding weight.
In modern times, our evolutionary advantages become disadvantages. The best way to lose weight, is to not gain it in the first place.
Exercised - Daniel E Lieberman
https://www.npr.org/2021/01/05/953249677/exercised-explains-...
Burn - Herman Pontzer (who I believe was a student of Lieberman's)
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-human-metabol...
Both a fairly dry and academic, but do get into the weeds if that's your thing.
A third book that's related but is an easier more entertaining read is "The Comfort Crisis" but Michael Easter.
https://eastermichael.com/book/
Easter actually interviews / quotes Lieberman.
The gist of all three...from an evolutionary perspective, the human body is designed for lean caloric times. When there is more calories than there is activity to burn it, those calories will be stored as fat (in preparation for leaner times). There's no ceiling on that so you'll keep adding weight.
In modern times, our evolutionary advantages become disadvantages. The best way to lose weight, is to not gain it in the first place.