Trump is Obese, But Not Morbidly
The Claim
US President Donald Trump is morbidly obese.
News posted on
Emerging story
In a May 19, 2020 interview with CNN, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Anderson Cooper about President Trump, "I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and in his, shall we say, weight group. He’s morbidly obese, they say."
Users on social media agreed.
Misbar’s Analysis
Mrs. Pelosi’s remarks followed President Trump’s declaration that he was taking hydroxychloroquine in an attempt to prevent COVID-19 infection. Social media users immediately began reposting the remark and questioning whether President Trump is, indeed, morbidly obese.
CDC weight guidelines for body mass index (BMI) actually do not use the designation “morbidly obese.” The highest obesity classification is called “extreme” or “severe.” However, sites such as WebMD do use the term “morbid obesity.” According to the CDC’s BMI calculator, a man of Trump’s height (6’3”) would have to weigh 320 pounds to be extremely obese.
According to his February 2019 annual physical, Trump weighed 243 pounds, making him obese but not severely. However, Trump has refused to take his February 2020 annual physical, and it is possible that he has put on 40 pounds in the last year. When asked in early March when he would complete his physical, he said, “I’m going probably over the next 90 days. I’m so busy, I can’t do it.”
Hydroxychloroquine is proven to be particularly dangerous for people who are obese and who with heart conditions, both of which affect Trump.
