INCIDENCE OF OBESITY CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORLDWIDE, MAKING ITS PREVENTION OR REDUCTION A PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY. NUTRITION RESEARCH THAT CAN LEAD TO EFFECTIVE PREVENTION STRATEGIES IS GREATLY NEEDED. INFLAMMATION IS A MAJOR UNDERLYING CAUSE FOR OBESITY, AND IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOOD SOURCES, SUCH AS FISH OIL, COULD AID IN REDUCING OBESITY. MOREOVER, EXERCISE IS EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION AND IMPROVING INSULIN RESISTANCE. BOTH EXERCISE AND DIET CAN INFLUENCE HEALTH THROUGH CHANGES IN GUT MICROBIOME; HOWEVER, NO STUDIES HAVE INVESTIGATED HOW TOGETHER THESE AFFECT GUT MICROBIOME AND OVERALL METABOLIC HEALTH. OUR GOAL IS TO UNDERSTAND THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF FISH OIL AND EXERCISE IN OBESITY-ASSOCIATED INFLAMMATION. WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT FISH OIL WILL IMPROVE GUT BACTERIA PROFILES, WHICH WILL IN TURN POTENTIATE THE BENEFITS OF AN EXERCISE PROGRAM AND IMPROVE ENERGY UTILIZATION AND REDUCE INFLAMMATION AND METABOLIC RISK. OUR STUDIES WILL PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL STRATEGIES FOR OBESITY, INFLAMMATION, DYSLIPIDEMIA AND DYSGLYCEMIA.