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I rather liked this summary written by the Poliquin Strength Institute:

Clinical Pearl 4: Increased blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are linked to lower incidence of obesity, suggesting a role for fish oils in weight management.

“Our findings suggest that n-3 PUFA may play an important role in weight status and abdominal adiposity,” wrote the researchers, led by Professor Monohar Garg from the University of Newcastle, and president elect of the Nutrition Society of Australia.

“Previous studies involving children and adolescents have shown a negative correlation between adiposity and plasma omega-3 PUFA and DHA concentrations, but there appears to be a paucity of research in adults,” explained the researchers.

Study details
The researchers recruited 124 people of varying weights: 21 were classified as having a healthy weight, according to their body mass index (BMI); 40 were classed as overweight; and 63 were obese. The researchers note that people who consumed omega-3 supplements were excluded from their study.
Blood samples were taken after the subjects fasted for at least ten hours. Prof Garg and his co-workers recorded an inverse relationship between total omeg-3 blood levels, as well as blood levels of DHA and EPA, with BMI, the subject’s waist size, and their hip circumference.

Indeed, obese people had omega-3 levels of 4.53 per cent, compared to 5.25 per cent in their healthy-weight peers. When the researchers classed the people according to their omega-3 levels, and not by their weight, they again observed that increased omega-3 levels were associated with a healthier BMI, a smaller waist, and a lower hip size.
**CP note: Just one percentage of Omega 3 makes a significant difference!

“Biologically plausible”

Commenting on the potential mechanism, the Australia-based researchers noted that is was “biologically plausible” that omega-3 fatty acids may aid weight management. Results from animal studies, for example, suggested that omega-3s may increase the production of heat by burning energy (thermogenesis).

Source: British Journal of Nutrition. Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1017/S0007114509382173. “Plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are negatively associated with obesity”. Authors: M. Micallef, I. Munro, M. Phang, M. Garg.