A recent Australian study observed that a daily dose of fish
oil combined with regular exercise is more beneficial in the
fight against obesity than exercise alone.
According to Dr. Peter Howe, a research fellow in nutritional
physiology at the University of South Australia in Adelaide,
“the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil activate enzymes
involved in the burning of fat, but they work best when exercise
boosts the body's metabolism.”
The 12-week study involved overweight and obese adults at
risk for heart disease due to high blood pressure and other
problems.
Participants took daily doses of fish oil or comparison oil,
with or without moderate aerobic exercise three times a week.
The proportion of fat in the body, particularly around the
abdomen, reduced remarkably in the fish oil plus exercise
group, but not in the groups on fish oil or exercise alone.
"Seeing the impact on body shape and body composition
of these participants has been the most exciting outcome of
the research," Howe commented.
The combination group also witnessed a greater decline in
blood pressure as well as an improved heart rate variability
and artery function.
Omega-3 fatty acids protect blood vessel walls by improving
their ability to stretch, Howe said.
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