IIRC the Taubes lecture video he cites an animal study where they caloric restrict mice and yet they grow obese. That's a pretty big blow against the "it's just basic physics" view of gaining weight.
I don't have a source on me, but from what I understand Americans exercise more today on average than they did in the past. Gym membership and the occurrence of jogging and other such cardio activities are way up. People tend not to realize that the idea of exercise being important for being healthy is a new idea for the average person.
Are there any studies that show how much less Americans exercise, how much larger portion sizes are, and how much more often fast food is eaten compared to 20-30 years ago? I imagine it's a combination of factors.
I'd also be interested to see any studies that quantify how much more simple carbs Americans consume now compared to 20-30 years ago.
I don't have a source on me, but from what I understand Americans exercise more today on average than they did in the past. Gym membership and the occurrence of jogging and other such cardio activities are way up. People tend not to realize that the idea of exercise being important for being healthy is a new idea for the average person.