The pressures of leading one of the largest countries in the world can put a toll on a person's health, but U.S. President Barack Obama doesn't seem to mind the stress the comes with the job. In fact, the Commander-in-Chief's vital statistics are even better this year than they were a couple of years ago.
Despite losing about 5 pounds since his last medical exam in June 2014, Obama has lower blood pressure, a lower cholesterol level and even a slower resting heartbeat.
Chief White House Physician Dr. Ronny L. Jackson said that the president's improved health is a result of his focus on making better lifestyle choices and exercising daily. Obama's fitness regimen focuses on a combination of resistance weight training and aerobics fitness.
"All clinical data indicates that the president is very healthy and that he will remain so for the duration of his presidency," the presidential doctor wrote in his report.
Jackson said that Obama has also been taking vitamin D supplements as well as esomeprazole (Nexium) to address the occasional flare ups of acid reflux.
The president continues to be tobacco-free and uses nicotine gum occasionally. He also only drinks alcoholic beverages occasionally and in moderate amounts.
As for Obama's diet, Jackson said that he maintains a healthy diet, which incorporates elements from first lady Michelle Obama's program for reducing childhood obesity.
From his old bodyweight of 180 pounds in 2014, Obama now weighs at 175 pounds. In 2010, the president weighed at 179.9 pounds but later went to 181.3 pounds the following year.
Obama's total cholesterol level also showed marked improvement, going from 213 two years ago to 188 this year.
His LDL (bad cholesterol) rating is currently at 125, well within his doctor's recommendation of staying below the 130 mark. His HDL (good cholesterol) rating, on the other hand, is at 68.
Other points from the president's medical exam results this year include a relative drop in his blood pressure level, which is down to 110/68 from 112/70, and a slower resting heart rate, which is now at about 56 beats per minute from 62 beats per minute in 2014.
Obama's also keeps a healthy body mass index (BMI) rating of 22.8.
Photo: Pete Prodoehl | Flickr
