What can you learn about yourself by looking at Trump’s health?

What can you learn about yourself by looking at Trump’s health?

When President Donald Trump underwent his annual physical earlier this year, the doctor who examined him had a few recommendations, including these two: get more exercise and eat more nutritious food.

“The president acknowledged he’d be healthier if he lost a few pounds,” Dr. Ronny L. Jackson, a rear admiral and the White House physician, told the media at a press briefing. He added that Trump would benefit from a regular exercise routine and a diet that’s lower in fat.

Sound familiar?

Every day, physicians across the U.S. are doling out to their patients the same recommendations Trump heard from his doctor.

“Life is so busy. Daily, I see patients whose health and nutrition is being sacrificed to keep up with work and family obligations,” says Dr. Anthony Weston, a family medicine physician at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, Ill.

“Behavior change is hard, and we can’t expect it to change overnight. So I recommend patients set realistic, achievable, measurable goals with respect to physical activity and reset those goals periodically. While 150 minutes of exercise weekly is advised, start with 15 minutes two times a week, for example, and go from there.”

Based on information provided at the press briefing about Trump’s health, the average Joe has a lot in common with this country’s 45th president. At a reported 239 pounds and 6 feet 3 inches, Trump, 71, has a body mass index (BMI) of 29.9. People with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 fall within the “overweight” range, while those at 30 or above are considered obese. Trump’s 29.9 BMI places him at the doorstep of obesity.

By that measure, he is like millions of Americans. Almost 71 percent are overweight or obese, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Of those, 36 percent are obese.

Trump also is like millions of Americans in that he takes a statin to lower his cholesterol. His low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, is 143, which is above the optimal level of less than 100.

Trump takes a low dose of the statin Crestor, but his doctor recommended increasing it, saying he suspects when the dose increases, Trump’s LDL will decrease. About 73 million American adults have high levels of LDL, according to government statistics, and more than 1 in 5 Americans between the ages of 40 and 75 take statins.

Trump has no evidence of diabetes, and his blood sugar level is healthy, according to his doctor. But in an effort to help Trump lose some weight, his doctor suggested that a nutritionist consult with White House chefs. Here, too, Trump is like millions of American adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that only 1 in 10 eat a healthy amount of fruits and vegetables.

For people with busy lifestyles, Dr. Weston says the key is encouraging them to make the right choices. These are among his suggestions:

  • When eating on the run, have the side salad instead of fries.
  • When at the store, fight the urge to restock the soda stash. Instead, focus on water intake to improve satiety and hydration.

Dr. Weston adds that the dietitians at Good Shepherd Hospital do a very nice job helping people set healthy calorie intake goals and teaching healthy portions and meal balance.

“This is critical teaching for patients struggling with weight,” Dr. Weston says.

Registered dietitians design nutrition programs according to the unique needs of each individual. To learn more about developing a personal diet plan, menu planning and lifestyle programs, click here.

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Comments

22 Comments

  1. Is it necessary to have our healthcare articles orbiting a political monstrosity?

  2. This article is predicated on Trump’s stated health status, thus to be treated, not with skepticism, but outright suspicion.
    I refer people back to that “physician’s letter” released during his campaign.

  3. Monstrosity? Have you checked your paycheck yet? Did you see those one hundred plus extra dollars you received from the ” monstrosities” tax reform? Or how about your 401k? Have you seen that? Lol monstrosity. Hey here’s one for you “if you like your plan you can keep your plan”. Who said that?? I think it was that last guy we had in office. The 44th liar and cheat.

    • Where are you seeing $100? Just checked my paycheck and that is incorrect. Not only is that incorrect, we’ll be taking a pay CUT once the tax cuts ends in a few years. Get your facts straight and quit watching Faux News.

    • I agree, seems like the author purposely used the president as an example to subtly add to the abundance of in precedented criticism towards him. iam thankful for my extra hundreds on my paycheck.

  4. Elizabeth Schroeder February 7, 2018 at 11:53 am · Reply

    I lie about my weight as too many many people. However having said that 6 foot 3 and 239 pounds! Get real people he’s barely over 6 foot if that and weigh heavier. The mam cannit I straight in bed, he just lies constantly even about the most smallest item.

  5. Oooh, $100! That’s a half-week’s worth of groceries! But the kicker is, wait until the deficit kicks in and they start cutting every program short of defense to pay for it.

    Anyway, Advocate, instead of constantly harping on people to eat better and get more exercise, since you acknowledge that that’s very difficult with the “busy lives” we lead, why don’t you harp on those people who are forcing us into these busy lives in the first place? Americans are putting in more and more hours at work yet making less and less money. Do you have anything to say about that?

  6. If only all of us average males could get the Babes Trump has

  7. This was offensive. This man is MY president and taking potshots at him is totally unacceptable. If you’re a butt hurt liberal who still can’t accept the outcome of the election more than a year ago, go cry in your beer. This man gave up his comfortanle life and sacrificed everything for the country he loves. And…thank the good Lord he is in office accomplishing miracles almost every day. If you can’t see the reality, leave and don’t let the door slam you on the butt on the way out. Pathetic snowflakes.

  8. It is disrespectful to address an article regarding the President of the United States on a last name basis. In the future, when referring to the President of the United States of America, please address him (or her) by his or her full title, i.e., President Trump. Thank you.

  9. Thank God Trump is President, had it been Hillary, our blood pressure would have been uncontrollable no matter how many doses we would take. The stress of another lying, cheating liberal like the last president would not have been good for the health of this country.

  10. Why is it that we cannot get away from Trump even on a medical web site . Give us a fricken break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. In context, I think folks are saying that Trump’s lack of morality and personal discipline indicates that he is not a role model. His apparent lack of care for himself and how he treats others is a problem. If he was my son, I would be embarrassed.

  12. To begin transforming your own health, please consider consuming Soylent Green!

  13. Wow! If only we had the secret to his working 12-16 hours a day and not requiring very much sleep. We have had thinner and possibly healthier presidents, but they didn’t have the stamina, nor the accomplishments of this president.

    • You are right, but the writers of these articles follow the trend of criticizing the president every chance they get, even if they disguise it as a health article.

  14. I can’t remember Advocate bringing up Obama’s smoking habit ????? I suppose that was ok

  15. Did the writer of this article get a written HIPA authorization to divulge the President’s recent physical? You are just inciting a political discussion about Trump and not his or our health when you publish an article with a hidden agenda. Obama smoked. Where was the article regarding the hazards of smoking and his health. Everyone knows to eat better and lose weight. Why don’t you help your employees with that problem because many of them have extreme weight issues. Let’s leave politics alone.

    • Thought about the HIPAA issue too. Why does his health information have to be twisted with political opinions. Whether you like him or not, agree with him or not, the office still requires the respect of everyone.

  16. Thank you Advocate for trying to keep us all aware of healthy hints and situations. If people would keep the politics out of it, they would actually learn something.

  17. It was a mistake to use the Trump name in an article about health. The nation is too divided to focus on the health subject itself, and I knew it would turn into a political debate. So, what did we learn? That we should eat healthier and exercise more, unlike our president. We didn’t need to read about his health issues. People are suffering a Trump derangement syndrome, where the mention of his name triggers an emotional meltdown, as one can read by the comments. I, on the other hand agree with the person who reminds us to enjoy the larger paycheck because of his new tax cuts. Thank you.

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About the Author

Kathleen Troher
Kathleen Troher

Kathleen Troher, health enews contributor, is manager of public affairs and marketing at Advocate Good Sheperd Hospital in Barrington. She has more than 20 years of journalism experience, with her primary focus in the newspaper and magazine industry. Kathleen graduated from Columbia College in Chicago, earning her degree in journalism with an emphasis on science writing and broadcasting. She loves to travel with her husband, Ross. They share their home with a sweet Samoyed named Maggie.