ABSTRACT
Obesity, the excess accumulation of adipose tissue, is a major health problem worldwide. It is associated with more than 30 medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and is a leading cause of unnecessary deaths. The control of body energy homeostasis is fundamental to mammalian life as well as to the problem of obesity. This chapter will describe the role of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in modulating some of the mechanisms that control body energy homeostasis. The chapter is divided into three major sections. The ( rst section is dedicated to the dietary intake and metabolism of the n-3 PUFAs, as well as the interrelated n-6 PUFAs. The second section describes the major mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of body energy homeostasis. Then, in the third section, evidence regarding the role of n-3 PUFAs in these homeostatic mechanisms will be described, including evidence regarding the role of n-3 PUFAs in obesity and cancer cachexia.
