The transcriptional control of metabolism in response to environmental changes plays an important role in energy homeostasis. A number of nuclear receptors control both anabolic and catabolic pathways in metabolic tissues. Their transcriptional activity is mediated by recruitment of coactivators or corepressors to target genes. The corepressor receptor-interacting protein 140 (RIP140) is recruited by many nuclear receptors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and estrogen-related receptors, and by a number of other transcription factors such as nuclear receptor factor 1. It is responsible for the suppression of gene networks that control catabolism in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, including glucose uptake, glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty-acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial uncoupling. In this review, we focus on the role of RIP140 in regulating energy expenditure and highlight issues to address RIP140 action in skeletal muscle.