US President Donald Trump has been declared in 'excellent health' following his latest medical examination, but a former emergency room doctor has suggested that one aspect of the report, the president's recent weight gain, warrants closer attention.
Trump, 79, underwent a comprehensive health assessment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, after which White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella concluded that he remains 'fully fit' to serve as commander in chief.
The report noted that Trump now weighs 238 pounds (108 kg), an increase of 14 pounds from his previous examination.
Former ER doctor raises questions
Commenting on the findings, practicing internist and former emergency room physician Dr. Stuart Fischer told the Daily Mail that the publicly available report does not provide enough information for outsiders to make a complete assessment of the president's health.
While Fischer dismissed some criticism surrounding Trump's health as overblown, he argued that the weight gain could potentially point to an underlying issue.
The doctor said that unexplained weight gain can sometimes be associated with serious circulatory problems or even early congestive heart failure.
He described one possible explanation as 'a malignant form of circulatory problem' and warned that such conditions can be 'potentially very serious.'
Fischer also suggested that someone should speak candidly with Trump about his health, saying the president may be 'playing with fire' if weight-related risks are not addressed.
