Science Weekly The real science of weight loss with the US’s leading nutritional scientist
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Oct 7, 2025 
In a revealing discussion, Kevin Hall, a pioneer in nutritional science and former NIH scientist, shares insights on weight loss and the science behind appetite. He challenges common myths about dieting, emphasizing how our bodies resist weight changes and the limited role of exercise in initial weight loss. Hall also delves into the effects of ultra-processed foods, explaining their addictive nature and how they drive overeating. With a backdrop of his early retirement due to censorship, he advocates for informed dietary practices over simplistic solutions.
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Calories Rule With Important Exceptions
- Calories largely predict fat change but small deviations exist; physiology matters more than simple counting.
- Kevin Hall explains metabolism and appetite adapt dynamically, undermining naive “calories in, calories out.”
Body Defends Its Weight
- The body resists weight loss via reduced energy expenditure and increased appetite.
- Hall describes two negative feedback circuits that make sustained weight loss difficult.
Weight Change Is Biologically Defended
- The body also resists weight gain by increasing metabolism and lowering appetite during overfeeding.
- Hall says both gain and loss are defended, implicating environmental shifts for population obesity.
