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President Donald Trump’s weight has risen sharply over the past year or so, prompting medical experts to warn of health risks. His weight measured in May stood at 108 kilograms, up more than 10 kilograms from the 97.5 kilograms recorded when he was booked at a Georgia jail in August 2023
According to The Washington Post on the 23rd, Trump weighed 238 pounds (108 kilograms) in the health checkup results released by the White House in May this year. That compares with 224 pounds (101.6 kilograms) at his April checkup last year, a gain of 14 pounds (about 6 kilograms) in a year
His height was recorded at 6 feet 3 inches (about 190 centimeters). That gives him a body mass index of 29.7, just 0.3 point short of the standard obesity threshold of 30. The Post said that in weight terms, he is about 1.6 pounds (0.7 kilograms) away from the obesity mark
Trump’s physician, Sean Barbabella, recommended weight loss, dietary management and physical activity in the checkup report. He nonetheless rated Trump’s overall physical function — including his heart, lungs and nervous system — and his cognitive and physical abilities as good
Ronnie Jackson, Trump’s former physician, said in a 2022 memoir that he had recommended a better diet, exercise and weight loss. At the time, he assessed Trump as being in very good overall condition for his age
Outside medical experts noted that weight gain itself can be a health risk factor. Scott Kahan, director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness, said obesity is a risk factor for various diseases and for early disability and death, and that the president’s weight should be managed for the sake of his health
Many Americans face similar problems. According to federal government data, more than 40% of U.S. adults are obese and more than 30% are overweight. Officials in the administration, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have made weight loss and longer life spans for Americans a key goal as part of the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign
David Kessler, who served as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations, warned that excess body fat can contribute to early death. He pointed in particular to the buildup of visceral fat in the abdomen around the liver, pancreas and heart
Trump has himself made his weight the subject of jokes. At the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last month, he said, “I would never call anybody fat,” adding, “I have my own problems.”
In May, speaking of his own diet, he said, “Maybe junk food is good and other food isn’t,” referring to people who worry too much about managing their weight, before saying, “I’m in great shape.”
Last month, on a podcast with Second Lady Usha Vance, he mentioned former President William Howard Taft, who weighed more than 300 pounds (about 136 kilograms). He said Taft was the heaviest president in U.S. history and that “I have to be careful, because I don’t want to beat his record.”
Despite concerns over Trump’s weight gain, the White House medical team maintains that he retains the physical and cognitive ability to carry out the duties of the presidency. The White House has recently again stressed Trump’s sharpness, energy and ability to perform his work
#Trump#TrumpHealth#Obesity#BMI#WhiteHouse
Original reporting by Lim Hye-rin for Seoul Economic Daily
AI-translated from Korean. Quotes from foreignxact original wording
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