Higher intakes of omega-3s and omega-6s may be associated with a lower risk of obesity Original paper

In this cross-sectional study of 6,372 men and women (ages 20–59) in the United States, higher intakes of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids were associated with a lower body fat percentage.

This Study Summary was published on April 3, 2025.

The study

The researchers adjusted for many confounders, including age, race, sex, education level, smoking status, calorie intake, and comorbidities.

The highest intake of omega-3s was associated with lower body fat (−0.9 percentage point), compared to the lowest intake. Similarly, the highest intake of omega-6s was associated with lower body fat (−0.82 percentage point) than the lowest intake.

In continuous analyses, each daily 1-gram increase (up to approximately 8.5 grams) in omega-3s was associated with a 0.44-percentage-point lower body fat, whereas each daily 1-gram increase (up to approximately 60 grams) in omega-6s was associated with a 0.04-percentage-point lower body fat.

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The results

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This Study Summary was published on April 3, 2025.