first, are the overwhelming studies focused solely on obses people, or other people as well? i could imagine obese people and "normal" people have significantly different diet and eating habits.

the growing wisdom is that the more you exercise the hungrier you get. that's fine. the problem is that then people feel like they have a free pass to splurge. i suspect that kind of habit is greater in obese people.

edit: personally, i feel less hungry after exercising, and more in control of what i eat. when i don't exercise, it is often related to some negative change in my life (sick, deadline, down-ness), and i'll tend to either eat much less or search for unhealthy food.

i've been the exact same weight for the past decade, so calorie in/out-wise i've settled into an moving routine. of course, where those calories sit has moved around. the kinds of sports i play effect where my muscles and excess fat are. my trimness and energy levels change, even if my weight does not.