Presidential Physique — ‘I’M Feeling Pretty Good,’ Bush Says

BETHESDA, Md. – President Bush was pronounced “fit for duty” after an annual checkup Saturday that showed that the 59-year-old commander in chief, an avid mountain bike rider, has lost 8 pounds since his last physical exam in December.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Bush said as he left the National Naval Medical Center in suburban Washington. The nine doctors who conducted the examination signed a statement saying there is “every reasonable expectation that he will remain fit for duty for the duration of his presidency.”

Details

Some facts and figures about the President’s health.

Height: 5 feet, 11 3/4 inches.

Weight: 191.6 pounds.

Blood pressure: resting, seated 110/64 (below 120/80 is healthy).

Pulse: resting, seated 47 beats per minute (60-100 bpm is normal for adults; 40-60 bpm is normal for a well-trained athlete).

Body fat: 15.79 percent.

Cholesterol: High-density lipoprotein 56 (goal is above 40); low- density lipoprotein 100 (optimal is below 100); total cholesterol 178 (below 200 is desirable).

Exercise: He exercises six times a week by bicycling 15 to 20 miles, working out on a treadmill and an elliptical trainer, performing free weight resistance training and stretching.

Personal: He enjoys an occasional cigar, gets his caffeine from diet sodas and coffee, and reports no usage of alcohol.

Overall health: The physician’s summary said, “The President remains in the ‘superior’ fitness category for men his age.”