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Trump officially obese, but in 'very good health'

Donald Trump is an avid golfer
Donald Trump is an avid golfer

US President Donald Trump is technically obese and has put on weight since last year, but his official doctor declared him to be in "very good health."

The presidential physician, Sean Conley, said Mr Trump, 72, passed his medical exam last week with flying colours.

"It is my determination that the president remains in very good health overall," he said in a brief statement.

Mr Trump, who has confounded health experts with his penchant for junk food and avoidance of strenuous exercise, weighs 110kg (17.3 stone).

This is a little bulkier than the 108kg recorded last year, which was already considered too much.

The resting heart rate has gone up too, at 70 beats a minute, compared to 68 beats last year.

Dr Theodore Strange, associate chair of medicine at Staten Island University Hospital in New York, said after reviewing the findings that Mr Trump is technically obese.

The results "show a 72-year-old male who meets criteria for obesity with a BMI (body mass index) of 30," Dr Strange said.

That contributes to the fact that "his cardiac risk scores are higher than normal," Dr Strange said in a statement. However, the president is "in good health despite being mildly obese."

Mr Trump has a history of high cholesterol and this year the dosage of his anti-cholesterol medicine Rosuvastatin was raised from a low 10mg a day to 40mg, Dr Conley said.

"There were no findings of significance or changes to report on his physical exam, including the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth/gums, heart, lungs, skin, gastrointestinal, and neurologic systems," Dr Conley's medical summary said.

Mr Trump may have an unhealthy lifestyle and a stressful job, but on the plus side he does not smoke and is a noted teetotaler. He says he has never even had a beer.

Mr Trump has described his main exercise as walking around the White House compound and standing up at public events. A slightly more active pastime is his beloved golf.