Abstract
Energy restriction and resistance training (RT) are commonly used by athletes to induce body weight and fat losses and improve power to mass ratio. Weight loss-induced greater than predicted decrease in resting energy expenditure (GPDR) has repeatedly been reported in individuals with obesity. However, less is known about GPDR in trained athletes who consume adequate protein and who perform RT to maintain fat-free mass (FFM) during weight loss. Thirty-six recreational athletes (14 F; 22 M) from two separate weight loss studies were included for secondary analysis. We examined the effects of short-term weight loss with RT and adequate protein intakes on GPDR in recreational athletes. We found significant reductions in resting energy expenditure (REE) (~ -140 kcal/d; p < 0.001) and GPDR based on our prediction equation (p < 0.001). What is more, we report that the decrease in REE and the presence of GPDR were observed even in individuals who had gained FFM by the end of the interventions. Our findings suggest that even increases in FFM, by means of RT and adequate protein intake does not prevent the decline in REE, nor the onset of GPDR in recreational athletes subjected to caloric deficits and fat loss.
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Subjects
- Medical research
- Physiology
Data availability
The analysed data sets of the current study are not publicly available. De-identified and processed data can be requested from the corresponding author for academic purposes after completing a signed data access form. Only de-identified data can be provided to protect participant privacy
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We thank all participants for taking part in our research
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Authors and Affiliations
Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Mikael F. Kanaan, Samir Nait-Yahia & Éric Doucet
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- Mikael F. KanaanView author publications
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- Samir Nait-YahiaView author publications
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- Éric DoucetView author publications
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Contributions
MFK and ÉD: Conceptualisation, data analysis, writing and editing; SNY and MFK: Data collection, writing and editing. All authors approved the final version
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Supplementary information
Prescribed and reported energy and macronutrient intakes. (download DOCX )
Participants’ baseline characteristics. (download DOCX )
Model-building table for covariates related to measured REE before the intervention. (download DOCX )
Model-building table for covariates related to measured REE after the intervention. (download DOCX )
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Kanaan, M.F., Nait-Yahia, S. & Doucet, É. The increase in fat-free mass during weight loss does not prevent greater than predicted reductions in resting energy expenditure in recreational athletes.
Int J Obes (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-026-02179-z
Received:09 January 2026
Accepted:20 July 2026
Published:30 July 2026
Version of record:30 July 2026
DOI
:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-026-02179-z
