That’s only true if you eat the same quantity of both. The other problem with sugar is that it doesn’t satisfy hunger as effectively as starch so you typically end up consuming more of it. The best bang for the caloric buck in terms of hunger satiation is actually fat and protein.
Don't forget fiber. Honestly, a good, high-fiber carbohydrate is about as good as you can get for satiety/gram, except maybe for fat.
I think you'll find a bowl of oatmeal hard to beat for satiety, and that's super high in carbohydrates (~70% carbs). Compare that to a glazed donut, which has fewer carbs and more fat, and I think you'll find that the oatmeal is more satisfying.
I think most diets ignore perhaps the most important part of successfully losing weight: feeling reasonably full. IMO, the macros don't matter nearly as much as the satiety of the food you eat, since feeling full is a huge help when trying to avoid excess calories.
