YOU are wrong. We are not simple calorie burning machines. Nutritional density & the form in which we consume our calories are critical in determining body compostion & function.

You are spouting nonsense promoted by candy companies.

You can consume 2000-3000 calories of cocacola in a day, be hangry, moody, have brain fog, & feel like you are starving (because you are) & actually get fat at the same time.

Or you can consume the same amount in steak, be completely satiated, & lose weight. Your general physical activity level does not have to change.

To whatever degree raw energy measurments (input/output) matter I would suggest brain function (among other things) probably makes up a lot of the difference. The brain is the most resource hungry organ. And I discovered (basically by accident) that I cannot listen to podcasts & audiobooks at 3x if I have been eating sugary crap. My brain just does not function as well.