AbstactDiet and exercise are two environmental factors that can alter colon cancer risk. The purpose of this study was to determine if regular moderate-intensity treadmill exercise training could attenuate polyp formation in Apc Min/+ mice fed the Western-style diet. Four-week-old male Apc Min/+ mice (n = 12 per group) were assigned to AIN-76A Control, AIN-76A Exercise, Western Control, or Western Exercise treatment groups. Mice were weaned to these diets and either subjected to regular moderate-intensity treadmill exercise (18 m/min, 60 min/d, 6 d/wk) or remained sedentary for 6 weeks. Mice fed the Western-style diet consumed ∼14% more calories and had 42% more epididymal fat compared with mice fed the AIN-76A diet. Exercise had no effect on fat pad mass with either diet treatment. Exercise reduced total intestinal polyp number by 50% and the number of large polyps (>1 mm diameter) by 67% in AIN-76A-fed mice. The Western-style diet increased polyp number by 75% when compared with AIN-76A-fed mice, but exercise did not decrease polyp number or alter polyp size in mice fed the Western-style diet. Markers of systemic inflammation and immune system function were improved with exercise in mice fed the AIN-76A diet. Mice fed the Western-style diet showed more inflammation and immunosuppression, which were not completely ameliorated by exercise. These data suggest that the induction of adiposity, inflammation, and immunosuppression by the Western-style diet may compromise the beneficial effect of moderate-intensity exercise on the intestinal polyp burden in Apc Min/+ mice.Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer among American men and women (1). The lifetime probability of developing colorectal cancer is 1 in 18 for men and 1 in 19 for women (1). The main risk factors for developing colorectal cancer include age, family history, and environmental causes. Two environmental risk factors for colon cancer include a high-fat diet and physical inactivity, which can lead to obesity (1-4). A recent meta-analysis has summarized the epidemiologic studies on colon cancer risk and obesity. When examining 26 studies including more than 70,000 colorectal cancer cases that reported body mass index, individuals with a body mass index >30 kg/m 2 had a 20% greater risk for developing colorectal cancer compared with those with a normal body mass index (<25 kg/m 2 ; ref. 5). Because the lack of regular physical activity and poor dietary habits contribute to body weight gain, it remains important to determine how these factors contribute to the initiation and progression of colon cancer.The preventative effects of physical activity and/or exercise on colorectal cancer risk have been reviewed, and the data are convincing that physical activity is protective (3,(6)(7)(8). A meta-analysis examining the rates of colon cancer showed that both active men and women have an overall relative risk of 0.79 and 0.78, respectively, of developing colon cancer (6). The hypothesized mechanisms include improved immune function, decreased gastr...