A study carried out in Australia has confirmed the benefits of eating a diet that contains alot of tuna rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. In the study it was shown that people who were using exercise plans and who included oily fish in their daily diets lost weight faster than those who didn't. The study carried out in the Australian city of Adelaide gave overweight people a daily dose of tuna to take alongside their normal diets and exercise routines and the results show a clear weight loss pattern.

While Omega 3 fatty acids are already associated with many health benefits such as reducing the chances of of heart disease, senile dementia, depression, arthritis and for strengthening the auto-immune system their use has never previously been linked with weight loss. The study was targeted at men and women who were overweight or obese and who had cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure and cholesterol. The volunteers were specifically told not to change their diets but just to make sure they took regular helpings of either sunflower oil (with no Omega-3) or tuna fish oil.

It was noted that after 12 weeks alongside a 45 minute walk or run thrice weekly those who were using the tuna fish oil lost on average 2 kilos and those who were using the sunflower oil had no change in body mass. Those who took tuna fish oil or sunflower oil but did not exercise also lost no body mass.

At present the scientists have no real idea as to how exactly the Omega-3 fatty acids function as a weight loss aid but reckon that possibly it helps overweight and obese people to burn fat off. The findings must not be interpreted as an easy way to lose weight as exercise and controlled diets were still needed but just as another good reason to include oily fish like tuna in their diets.

Some nutritionists say that it is important not to completely exclude fat from a balanced diet and that healthy fats like omega-3 are essential for good health. Studies have shown that the majority of people eat less than 200mg daily of omega-3 fatty acids which is below the 500mg daily recommended amount that can stop the onset of cardio disease.