Donald Trump has been warned he is “playing with fire” if he does not act on his weight after piling on the pounds since becoming president. The president is 23lbs — just over a stone and a half — heavier than he was three years ago.
Trump weighed in at 238lbs (17st or 108kg) at his physical exam in May, up from the 215lbs (15st) he was recorded at in 2023 when he was arrested in Georgia. White House health chiefs say they have advised Trump to improve his diet and sustained physical activity.
Doctor warns over obesity risks
Dr. Scott Kahan, the director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness, has raised the alarm, saying: “We know that obesity is a strong risk factor for numerous health issues — as well as premature disability and death.
“Addressing obesity to protect the president’s health should be a priority similar to ensuring Secret Service protections for his life.”
The White House have not responded to questions about Trump’s weight and insist he is in great condition. Ronny Jackson, who served as Trump’s physician in his first term, previously warned Trump about his waistline during his time working with the president.
Past warnings and Trump's response
In a 2022 memoir Jackson wrote: “I told him he could do a better job with his diet, and he would be a little healthier if he exercised and lost some weight, but other than that, he was in outstanding shape for his age.”
Trump has made no secret of his love for fast food and his distaste for intense exercise over the years. A tell-all book penned by US journalist Michael Wolff said the president liked to eat at McDonald’s as nobody knew he was coming and the food was pre-made.
Speaking in the Oval Office in May, Trump stated: “Maybe junk food is good and the other food is no good. I know many, many people that all they do is watch their weight, their this, their that, and they kicked the bucket, and here we are. I feel great.”
Trump jokes about heaviest president record
In a lengthy interview in January, Trump said he is in "perfect" health, but does not get regular exercise because he finds it "boring". He said: "To walk on a treadmill or run on a treadmill for hours and hours like some people do, that's not for me."
Trump has himself joked about his plump appearance, stating he does not want to wear bulletproof vests as they make him look fat.
The heaviest ever US leader was former president William Howard Taft, who weighed more than 300lbs. During a podcast with second lady Usha Vance last month, Trump spoke about the possibility of beating Taft and becoming the heaviest US president in history.
Trump stated: “He was our heaviest president, and I have to be careful because I don’t want to supersede his record. And a thing like that would be possible if I allowed it to happen.”
