Yes, that's why it is so funny to me nobody talks about stress. Sure, it is easy on paper to lose weight, just do not overeat. It is more about emotions and stress than scanning food for me. Most of the time, gaining weight is a symptom.

yeah it isn’t too differnt than smoking or drinking or drugs in terms of use as a stress reliever

Why do you say that? I'm not American but my eating and exercise habits have improved considerably after I had kids.

well for women there’s a biological reality that they tend to gain weight in pregnancy and don’t tend to lose it all after

but for both sexes it’s a lot less free time and alot more stress. both of which are contributors to weight gain