Yeah, that's consistent with the research. It seems like the body really likes to stay at a given weight, so it adjusts so there's not too much fluctuation. Tha

Yeah, that's consistent with the research. It seems like the body really likes to stay at a given weight, so it adjusts so there's not too much fluctuation. That's why it's really hard to lose weight and keep it off if you've been fat for a long time. What exercise helps with is making sure that the occasional binge, or change in circumstances, doesn't lead to permanent weight gain. If you're temporarily disabled for 2 weeks and can't move and put on some weight, your body then burns more of that fat when you go back to exercising, or regulates your appetite so you eat less. But if you're not used to exercising and then suddenly increase your caloric intake, your body has less opportunity to burn the extra fat, so it leads to long term weight gain, and eventually your gut biome and body adjust to the new normal.