> Prolonged caloric deficits often trigger an (irreversible) drop in thermogenesis [1]. In the long term, this adaptation leads to a new energetic equilibrium w

> Prolonged caloric deficits often trigger an (irreversible) drop in thermogenesis [1]. In the long term, this adaptation leads to a new energetic equilibrium with a slower metabolic rate, which requires an even greater reduction in calories in order to lose any (more) weight But this is quite intuitive, isn't it. It's the lasagna paradox: feed a man three lasagna trays a day for his whole life, he will be very fat. But once you start feeding him two, still well over the TDEE of a normal man, he will lose weight until he will plateau again. If you condition your body to work with 2000Kcal from the 2400 it needs, it will adjust. If you then want to lose more fat once it is adjusted, you have to scale the caloric input even more. This does not mean that dieting is ineffective. It's just your body adapting to keep you alive. Besides, from the link: "Adaptive thermogenesis can make a difference in the ability of obese individuals to lose body weight" In OBESE individuals. I often find that weight loss discussion here on HN errs on the irrational side.