I've heard the same principle as it relates to physical wellbeing I think it's 100% true.
Diets fail because they're all about food. Better to lose unhealthy weight by exploring other passions... even things that aren't physical such as playing an instrument (or coding). Then over the long term you can start to consume less and less as you have food on the brain less and less.
Unfortunately hunger is a biological urge, and it's not exactly something you can choose not to fixate on.
Anything else makes sense, but I really don't think it applies to dieting all that much on an extended basis (for a short period of time, though, maybe).
To some extent, you can ignore it. I mean, most people eat far more than they have to. As a result, they become accustomed to it, and get hungry faster than they biologically have to.
I see what you're saying. As a different way of looking at it, I've always considered that Desire for Meat (bread/poultry) = Biological, Desire for Hostess Cupcakes = Psychological. And while you shouldn't fudge with the former, the latter can be manipulated with things like this "target fixation." Least that's been my experience, and I was a chubby teen.
It's all very unscientific, and you may be right. But I have this feeling there's room for a distinction between biological/psychological food needs and the ways we cope with each.
Coding is very physical. Your brain burns through tons of calories as it is, and is in overdrive when you code.
I had a teacher who said he'd lose several pounds per game in competitive chess play.
It burns between 15 and 30% of your caloric intake, depending on which source you find the most accurate and the size and level of activity of your brain.
Diets fail because they're all about food. Better to lose unhealthy weight by exploring other passions... even things that aren't physical such as playing an instrument (or coding). Then over the long term you can start to consume less and less as you have food on the brain less and less.