[mysterio]

The natural state of the human animal is feast or famine. And for northern Europeans, a lot of the year is famine. So for about 40,000 years, your ancestors have evolved to deal with that reality.

For the last 50 years or so, the "famine" part of the year has been erased for most Americans. Food is usually available and plentiful, but our brains tell us to eat it when it's there to store up for when it isn't. When our economy was still largely agricultural, this wasn't as big of a deal, as the average worker might burn as much as 4,000 calories a day. But now the average job is more sedentary, and the person working that job is burning possibly 2,200 a day, or as low as 1,800.

I lost a great deal of weight, and to keep it off, I count calories and exercise an hour most days. My brain still tells me to eat all of the time, and I have stretches where I have to be hungry. But the 23 BMI is worth it. Also being slim like humans historically were is better for me than carrying extra weight, especially for my back and knees.

So it isn't coca cola. In my opinion, it's not artificial sweeteners, HFCS, or McDonalds, either. It's a new calories consumed / calories burned balance that is unique to this particular group of humans in this particular location, and the scenario has only existed for about 50 years. That's not enough time to evolve away the brain signals that tell us we're starving Europeans and winter's coming.

[Dysart]

I was always told that my metabolism would slow down one day and I'd have to really watch what and how much I eat. I'm still waiting.

Of course I've been hugging 450lbs since i was 14 but that's another story altogether.

[Old Professer]

You show me the dog that can digest that load and I’ll excuse the homework and give you an “A”