Healthy oils are often touted for their brain and heart benefits, but new research published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows even more support for healthy fats fighting obesity. In the study, safflower oil and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) helped obese, postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes manage their health by promoting weight loss. Two groups of 35 women under age 70 took two pills containing 6.4 grams of either Safflower oil’s or CLA’s active fatty acid four times per day for 16 weeks. The subjects swapped supplements after a four-week break. The study results showed that linoleic acid in safflower oil reduced fat in the trunk area, lowered blood sugar, and increased muscle tissue, while CLA reduced total body fat and lowered body mass index (BMI). Because the body doesn’t naturally produce CLA or linoleic acid—and it’s difficult to obtain effective amounts through food alone—supplementation may be necessary for weight loss.
