Pontzer notes that one reason hunter-gatherers tend not to have obesity is the lack of variety in any given individual hunter-gatherer’s diet. When we have a lot of food choices, we tend to overeat because the variety of flavors is enticing. “It’s the reason you always have room for dessert at a restaurant even when you’re full,” Pontzer says. Even though you’re full “and you can’t eat one more bite of steak, you’re still interested in the cheesecake because it’s sweet and that button hasn’t been worn out in your brain yet.”
