When it comes to weight loss, the evidence on whether fish oil supplements can help you lose weight is mixed. On the one hand, fish oil supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids have been shown to regulate metabolism, according to a randomized controlled trial published in 2014 in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. That being said, an increased metabolism may be beneficial for weight loss because it helps burn calories more quickly.
In fact, a 2022 randomized controlled trial published in the journal Nutricion Hospitalaria noted that subjects who took omega-3 supplements experienced significant decreases in waist circumference, weight, fat mass, and BMI. Another randomized trial in 2007 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that taking fish oil supplements and exercising led to weight loss. However, the study emphasizes that any potential weight loss benefits of fish oil supplements are likely to be modest and should be considered as part of an overall healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise.
On the other hand, other studies have found no significant effect of fish oil supplementation on weight loss. For example, a 2015 study published in the journal PLOS ONE found no evidence to support the use of omega-3 supplements for weight loss.
