Q: How old is President Barack Obama and does he work out? He looks fit.
—Eddie Webster, Douglasville
A: Obama turned 53 years old on Aug. 4. He's 6 foot 1 and weighed a reported 181 pounds in 2012. Prior to the 2008 election, Obama told Men's Health that he worked out 45 minutes a day, six days a week, and loves to play in pickup basketball games.
Cornell McClellan, a personal trainer who has worked with Obama and other members of the administration, told CNN.com in 2011 that he likes “to mix things up” to help conserve time. “We’ll try to make sure there’s some high-intensity stuff,” he said. “We might do some weights, throw some cardio in there and throw some plyometrics in there with abs. We go from one thing he needs to another, because his time is short.”
The president was seen working out in a hotel gym during a trip to Europe in June. A video of his routine was leaked and reviewed by the media and professional trainers. Tony Horton, creator of the P90X workout, said Obama’s form was “pretty good,” on CNN’s “New Day.” “I’d give him a solid B-plus, maybe an A-minus,” he said.
Michelle Obama launched the “Let’s Move!” campaign in 2010. It’s an initiative “dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams.”
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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