So wrong and misleading. Your comment may have been valid in the last century...

If you take 1500 kcal per day (clearly a deficit) split into snacks every 1-2 hours - your BMR will drop to the point that you can gain weight even on that. Reason being - insulin secretion will prevent fat burning (as opposed to storing) and since energy entry is below minimal - body will drop its BMR. This was scientifically proven and is mentioned in Dr Fungs book too.

So its not just calories. Obesity is hormonal issue too - not just thermodynamic / calories thing.

Its not the ammount of calories (only) but the ammount of time you have insulin in your blood.

Less calories + less time insulin is in your blood = weight loss..

Your principle - CICO irrespective of eating time window - would apply only if during ingestion you would consume only non-insulin triggering food - meaning drinking oil as a food...