Beyond Calories: How Your Body Defends Its Weight Set Point

Most people think of weight loss as simple math, calories in versus calories out. In reality, the body sees it as a survival challenge. When weight drops, powerful biological systems activate to defend your natural set point, slowing metabolism and increasing hunger to restore balance.

In this episode, Dr. Christopher Thompson explains how the brain, gut, and hormones coordinate to regulate weight over time. He describes how leptin and insulin act as key hormonal signals for the body’s internal thermostat, and how adaptive thermogenesis adjusts metabolism in response to these signals to maintain stability. These same defenses that once protected us from starvation now make lasting weight loss so difficult.

This episode is part of a five-part Forbes Health series exploring the science of appetite, satiety, and weight regulation.