Losing Weight and Staying Fit: Help from Omega-3 Fish Oil

The marine Omega-3 fatty acids Omega 3 EPA and DHA are beneficial for the heart, brain, skin, counteract inflammation, and much more.

Research adds another benefit to the list: Omega-3s help with weight loss! This is not just a catchy phrase but the result of several studies conducted on lab mice and even in clinical trials with humans. Animal experiments allow for gathering a large amount of information about the effect of a particular substance on a cellular, metabolic, and genetic level.

Not all findings can be applied to humans, but they still provide useful insights as mammals function similarly. In this case, researchers analyzed the effect of adding fish oil (with a high concentration of DHA) to a high-fat diet. The results were surprising: mice treated with Omega-3s lost weight compared to those given the same food but with another oil, and this effect was even more pronounced when combined with a moderate diet.

Additionally, these mice tended not to regain the weight they lost even when they were allowed to eat without restrictions. Further studies revealed a reduction in the number of fat cells and greater fat oxidation due to the activation of certain mitochondrial genes.

In simple terms, it's as if Omega-3s could "speak" to fat cells and convince them to burn energy rather than store it as fat deposits. Great news for those seeking natural remedies for obesity? It seems so: a study conducted in a clinic with a group of 27 obese women on a low-calorie diet showed good results. The group that was given Omega-3s lost 20% more weight than the control group with a placebo after just 3 weeks.

Blood tests led researchers to conclude that the mechanism of action is probably the same as suggested by the animal model, meaning an increase in fat oxidation to generate energy.

Obesity and overweight are the result of excess caloric intake, but not only that: what we eat affects our DNA and can stimulate the expression of genes that mediate fat accumulation.

An approach to weight loss that doesn't consider this factor cannot be effective. In this sense, Omega-3s could be used as adjuncts to weight loss, as part of a strategy that targets the causes of overweight rather than just reducing calories, an approach that is often frustrating for both those who propose it and those who try to implement it.