I’ve enjoyed reading this discussion. I would like to contribute that the most significant factor in excessive obesity isn’t a typically a nutrient deficiency, or even a moral failing in CICO - it’s carbohydrate addiction.

Yes, hunger can be driven by low-levels of essential nutrition, pica during pregnancy is a great example of that. Many people are over-fed and under-nourished, so when they get hungry they continue to go to their deficient food source (probably something carbohydrate heavy).