Doctors are expressing concern over President Donald Trump’s weight gain, with medical experts warning that his 23-pound increase since 2023 poses a significant health risk as scrutiny of his fitness for office intensifies. At his May 2026 physical examination, Trump weighed 238 pounds—14 pounds more than the previous year and 23 pounds heavier than the 215 pounds documented when he was booked in Georgia in August 2023, according to medical records reviewed by The Washington Post.
The 80-year-old president’s weight places him just 1.6 pounds shy of the obesity threshold based on his height of 6 feet 3 inches. Dr. Scott Kahan, director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness, told the Post that addressing Trump’s weight should be treated as a health priority. “We know that obesity is a strong risk factor for numerous health issues — as well as premature disability and death,” Kahan said. “Addressing obesity to protect the president’s health should be a priority similar to ensuring Secret Service protections for his life.”
Trump’s White House physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, recommended in his May 2026 medical report that the president lose weight and exercise more, though the physician also declared Trump in “excellent health” overall. The weight gain represents a reversal from Trump’s campaign period in 2023, when he appeared noticeably thinner after leaving office in 2021.
Other medical professionals have echoed concerns. Dr. Stuart Fischer, a former emergency room doctor and current internist, told the Daily Mail in June that Trump needs intervention. “Someone has got to really quietly sit down and talk with him, and say, ‘You’re playing with fire,'” Fischer said. “The fact that his doctors haven’t gotten through to him about weight, to me, is kind of interesting. It should be concerning.”
Trump’s health scrutiny extends beyond weight. In August, cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who served as Vice President Dick Cheney’s physician for 27 years, published an op-ed in The New York Times challenging the White House’s health assertions and pointing to visible concerns including bruising on Trump’s hands, swelling in his legs, and episodes where the president appeared to struggle staying awake during public events. The White House responded with an expletive-filled statement attacking Reiner’s credibility.
Trump’s diet has long drawn scrutiny. He is a known lover of McDonald’s and Diet Coke, and has been reported to indulge in late-night snacking and highly processed foods. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. remarked earlier this year on Trump’s dietary habits, noting that despite his poor food choices, “He has the constitution of a deity. I don’t know how he’s alive, but he is.”
The president has acknowledged his weight through humor. While announcing policies to make GLP-1 weight-loss drugs more accessible in June, Trump joked, “I probably should” take one. In a July podcast appearance, he compared his weight to former President William Howard Taft, saying, “He was our heaviest president, and I have to be careful because I don’t want to supersede his record.”
The White House has pushed back against weight concerns, with spokesman Davis Ingle stating that “President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises.” The administration pointed to Trump’s schedule of intense meetings, public events, and weekend golf outings as evidence of his fitness. However, medical experts argue that weight management remains critical for an 80-year-old leader, particularly given the documented health risks associated with obesity in aging populations.
Sources
- The Independent — Trump’s weight gain of 23 pounds since 2023, May 2026 physical examination results, and expert commentary from Dr. Scott Kahan and Dr. Stuart Fischer
- NZ Herald — Details on Trump’s weight trajectory, White House physician recommendations, and expert analysis on obesity as a health risk
- ECIKS.org — Dr. Jonathan Reiner’s op-ed concerns and White House response; visible health concerns documented in August 2026
- Washington Post — Dr. Scott Kahan’s statement on obesity as a risk factor and comprehensive reporting on Trump’s weight and health scrutiny
