Up Your Omega-3s for a Trimmer Waistline

Could omega-3 fatty acids add yet another health benefit to its already long list of important health improving characteristics? There is now a promising report that it is possible that Omega-3s could help even more than previously thought when it comes to weight loss and management.

Australia’s University of Newcastle released a new study stating that higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce obesity.

The researchers report that these n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, also known as n-3 PUFAs, “may play in important role in weight status and abdominal adiposity.” In other words, omega-3s could assist you in shedding a few pounds. The British Journal of Nutrition tells us that omega-3 levels are 15 percent higher in people that are a healthy weight than in overweight people.

How Was the Study Conducted?

The researchers started with the facts that omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are known as important for heart health, protecting against cancer, cognitive health, eye health, and child development. Based on that information, the Australian researchers speculated that Omega-3s may also be of benefit to obese people. To determine if there was any validity to their speculation, the set up a trial involving people of varying sizes and weights. They carefully excluded anyone that took omega-3 supplements.

The study was fairly simple.

• The researchers selected 124 adults that met their criteria.
• They classified them according to their BMI as normal, overweight, or obese. Of the 124, 21 were normal, 40 were overweight, and 63 were obese.
• The subjects all fasted for 10 hours.
• Blood samples were taken to measure their omega-3 levels.

When the levels of omega-3 were analyzed, it was found that there was an inverse relationship to the subject’s BMI, waist size, and size of their hips. The obese subjects had average omega-3 levels of 4.53 percent and normal weight individuals had an average omega-3 level of 5.25 percent.

The Results in Layman’s Terms

The translation of all these results is that the higher omega-3 levels indicated lower weight and smaller waists and hips. The research team hypothesized that as shown in a previous study, omega-3 fatty acids help manage weight by helping to burn energy. Another earlier study showed that omega-3s may increase the fullness feeling in obese people by reducing the levels of hunger hormones such as leptin. The scientists suggest a study using omega-3 supplementation to help weight loss and management urging that more research is needed to determine if omega-3s do influence obesity.

Considering the wide array of health benefits that are associated with omega-3 fatty acids, it is not unthinkable that they may also assist in weight loss. The idea of an additional benefit from this already important supplement is quite exciting. The exact amount of influence they could have regarding weight loss is yet to be determined. Future studies should be monitored closely to verify how important the omega-3 fatty acids are to a society that is continually battling obesity.