Effects of a 4-month active weight loss phase followed by weight loss maintenance on adaptive thermogenesis in resting energy expenditure in former elite athletes.

AT in REE occurred after a moderate WL and remained significant after WL maintenance. More studies are needed to better clarify the mechanisms underlying the large variability observed in AT and providing an accurate methodological approach to avoid overstatements. Future studies on AT should consider not only changes in FM and FFM but also the FFM composition.