You're not lazy; your brain is 'exercise-sparing'

The thing about energy expenditure is that it used to happen as a matter of course. In order to not die from too little energy intake, we had to give chase to our food. Our bodies helped us out a little by making it feel a little good. Even when we didn’t catch the food, we got a little hit of endocannabinoids. (Yes, it is like weed.)

But now, food appears magically in front of us from all directions. Energy intake and energy expenditure are now entirely divorced activities. Even when we are full to bursting with energy and nutrients, the brain wants us to do nothing except sit around. It’s used to living in a world where we will have to stand up and go get food eventually, and I don’t mean going to the grocery store and buying a rotisserie chicken. Our brains know nothing of Postmates, of Doordash.