Energy Balance Governs Weight
Statement
Body mass changes according to energy in vs. energy out
over time --- no food or timing trick escapes thermodynamics
Why it matters
Cuts through diet tribalism --- all effective diets
work via energy balance, whether they admit it or not
Why Foundational
Foundational because thermodynamics is non-negotiable — body mass changes according to energy in vs out over time. Hall 2015 metabolic ward studies replicate this across composition swaps; 2016 meta-analysis of 32 controlled feeding trials found no significant energy-expenditure difference across carb-fat ratios from 1–83%. Cuts through diet tribalism: all effective diets work via energy balance whether they admit it or not. The mechanisms differ (satiety, adherence, insulin response, behavioural friction) but the bottom line doesn't.