Essential fatty acids are fatty acids that are important for the body and that cannot be made by the body - they must be obtained from your diet. Therefore, these essential fatty acids are needed either in their pure form, or better, in a complex form that can be used by the body. The essential fatty acids are:
Lenoleic Acid (Omega 6)
Lenolenic Acid (Omega 3)
Arachidonic Acid
The last one is of less improtance than the others and is not discussed here.
The issue with the Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids is not only a deficiency in Western diet of Omega 3 fatty acids, but an inappropriate ratio of the acids. The ideal intacke of these acids in the ratio of 4 of Omega 6 series to at least one of Omega 3. The current ratio is estimated to be about 12 of Omega 6 to one of Omega 3.
The significance of these fats is that deficiency diseases associated with a poor balance of these fatty acids mirrors the main diseases of Western society.