Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump's Weight Officially Puts Him In Obese Category, But Heart Expert Says He Has Relatively Low Risk For Cardiovascular Disease
Reuters: Trump Puts On A Few Pounds, Enters Obese Range: Medical Report
U.S. President Donald Trump has gained weight over the past year and is now in the obese range, although he remains in "very good health overall," according to results of an annual presidential physical examination conducted last week. Trump, known for his love of hamburgers and well-done steaks and an aversion to the gym, was warned by his doctor last year that he needed to change his diet and start to exercise. (2/14)
The New York Times: At 243 Pounds, Trump Tips The Scale Into Obesity
Dr. Conley, a Navy commander and the director of the White House medical unit, reported Mr. Trump’s weight without comment in a memorandum describing some results of the physical that was released by the White House. After a team of 11 specialists examined the president for four hours at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Dr. Conley said the president was in “very good health” and was expected to remain so “for the remainder of his presidency and beyond,” but did not release any other details. (Karni and Altman, 2/14)
Bloomberg: Trump's Overall Health Good But Weight Qualifies Him As Obese
Conley said Trump’s level of “bad” LDL cholesterol was 122, which is considered “near optimal/above optimal” by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. His total cholesterol was 196, which is considered “desirable,” the agency says. (Wayne, 2/14)
The Washington Post: Trump’s Doctor Says He Is In Good Health, Despite Gaining Weight
Mariell Jessup, chief science and medical officer of the American Heart Association, said the data released by Trump’s physician show a “lucky” older man with relatively low risk for cardiovascular disease. Jessup plugged the data released by Trump’s physician into the American Heart Association’s risk calculator and found that Trump has a 17 percent chance of developing cardiovascular disease in the next decade. (Olorunnipa and Johnson, 2/14)
Politico: Trump Technically Obese, Despite Doctor's Clean Bill Of Health
Some Trump critics wondered why it took so long, but it often takes days to receive medical test results. The White House nonetheless released the memo on a busy day, shortly after news broke that the president planned to sign a government funding deal and issue a national emergency to ensure the construction of his border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. (Restuccia, 2/14)
The Wall Street Journal: Trump Has Gained Weight Since Last Year, White House Physician Says
The report by Dr. Conley was less comprehensive than the three-page memo Dr. Jackson issued last year, which in addition to the president’s vital statistics described each of the exams Dr. Jackson had performed and detailed Mr. Trump’s lab results. Dr. Jackson also held a briefing with reporters, in which he said he had administered an extensive cognitive assessment at the president’s request. The assessment yielded a perfect score, Dr. Jackson said. Dr. Conley’s memo said he administered a neurological exam but didn’t say if he administered a cognitive assessment. Dr. Conley didn’t have a briefing with reporters. (Ballhaus, 2/14)
