As a former fat guy, on number 2, it's more than just sugar. It's quantity. Skinny/normal people really just don't get how much food a fat person eats. It's insane. Like the thing you mention about skipping meals, fat people don't do that unless it's to skip the fifth meal.
Most people do not count calories. They eat until they feel full and this usually worked out okay.
But now things like white bread, cereal and pancakes have become a regular staple of their diets. These high carb, low fiber foods have a lesser effect on satiety, so people consume more calories before they feel full and the excessive level of carbs in their system discourages their body from burning the fat they already have.
An important thing to realize is that the physical fat that you have on you is fuel. When/what you eat determines whether or not your body uses that source of fuel.
