You asked - here's the three main points:
The Deep Psychological Impact of Food and Weight: For many, eating isn't just about hunger; it's deeply tied to emotions, stress, and even past experiences. Think of it as "comfort eating" or using food to cope with tough feelings, which is a common human response, not a weakness. When people are told to "just stop eating," it completely ignores the powerful emotional role food plays. This cycle of eating, gaining weight, and then feeling shame can trap individuals. Harvard Health Publishing offers insights into "Why people eat emotionally" and the underlying psychology read more here:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-stress-causes-people-to-overeat
The Biological "Set Point" and the Body's Resistance to Weight Loss: Our bodies have a natural weight they prefer to maintain, often referred to as a "set point." When someone loses a lot of weight, their body essentially thinks it's starving. It fights back by slowing down metabolism (burning fewer calories even at rest) and ramping up hunger hormones, making you feel constantly hungry even after eating. This isn't a lack of effort; it's your body trying to return to its normal weight. This is why "yo-yo dieting" is so standard. Johns Hopkins Medicine explains "The Science of Why You Regain Weight, Even After Successful Diets," detailing how biology works against long-term maintenance, see here:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/maintaining-weight-loss
Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) and Their Impact on Brain Function and Cravings: These aren't just "bad foods"; they're engineered to make you overeat. UPFs are packed with just the right mix of sugar, unhealthy fats, and salt to hit a "bliss point," making them incredibly appealing and, for some, genuinely addictive. They can essentially hijack your brain's reward system, leading to constant "food noise" – those intrusive thoughts about eating, even when you're not hungry. It's not about simple hunger; it's your brain responding to powerful, designed-in cues. Dr. Chris van Tulleken's book "Ultra-Processed People" is a fantastic and accessible resource that explains exactly how these foods affect our brains and bodies. There's a good video here:
Better than being small-brained ;-)