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Governor Chris Christie's Weight: Advantage or Disadvantage?

When it looked like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie might run for president, the political analysts, columnist, and bloggers lit up the Internet with sometimes controversial comments and opinions about his weight and the effect his obesity would have on his ability to serve as president. However, a few writers and bloggers felt that Governor Christie's weight might be an asset for him should he run for president. After all, obesity statistics are at an all-time high and many obese Americans could relate to his struggles. That was their rationale.

But overwhelmingly, the press was not kind or understanding when it came to the Governor's weight. A self-confessed food lover, Governor Christie has been quoted as "joking" about weighing in at 550 pounds, but it is thought that he weighs closer to 400 pounds. Who knows what he truly weighs, but the fact is, his obesity is an issue that he just cannot hide. Most officials running for office can hide their personal struggles with addictions. (And they do have them!) They can hide drug and alcohol abuse, nicotine addictions, sex addictions, eating disorders that cause weight loss, and so on. But an obese candidate seems to be considered an "open book."

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm slightly overweight," Chris Christie stated during a debate in his campaign for governor. "I have struggled with my weight for the last 30 years on and off, and that's the way it is, and so I think there are a lot of people out in New Jersey who have the same kind of struggles," said Christie to one reporter. "I weigh too much because I eat too much and I eat some bad things, too."

The Governor's obesity was an issue he felt he had to publically address. It didn't seem to matter what his political party affiliation was, his platform, or his ability to lead and make a difference, his obesity took center stage. But should a person's weight disqualify them from serving in the most powerful office in the world?

ObesityHelp's Vice President of Operations, Bo Mccoy, shared his sentiments on this very serious issue: "As a person of size who shares the battle of obesity with Mr. Christie, I can say that to suggest his weight impairs his ability to make higher order cognitive decisions, or deters from the physique to be 'presidential,' or in any way impairs his ability to lead, is an understated insult. Not only would such a suggestion be prejudicial, it would force one to question our societal view of what it means to be normal in the first place – and this leads us to exclude anyone with any physical attributes not considered normal. If we go down this road, may the constitution and our children forgive us.

Founder and CEO of ObesityHelp, Eric Klein, chimed in with his thoughts: "We have collected video clips from the Internet showing where a wide range of well-meaning (or certainly no harm-intending) political commentators are very matter-of-factly referencing obesity as a type of disqualifying factor. While such certainly might be a matter-of-fact reflection of popular perception, we intend to constructively educate those individuals (with a very wide audience) about how they might have been implicitly perpetuating some very harmful stereotypes."

The Internet wasn't the only forum to take a jab at the Governor's weight. Television talk show hosts also had a field day, amongst them, The Late Show host David Letterman. He seemed to have fun with a recent top 10 list entitled "Ways the World Would Be Different if Chris Christie Were President":

10. Al-Qaida taunts America with ‘Your president's so fat' jokes
9. Goodbye White House vegetable garden
8. Cabinet will now have a Secretary of Cake
7. New state: Fatbuttachusetts
6. Congress does whatever he wants because fat guys are, like, super-strong when they freak out
5. Presidential retreat moved from Camp David to Hershey Park
4. Taxpayers would have to pay for the president's second seat on Air Force One
3. New national anthem: the Chili's 'Baby Back Ribs' song
2. Instead of Iraq, we'd invade IHOP
1. Scandal when president is caught in Oval Office with Betty Crocker and Sara Lee

Yes, that was really Letterman and his writers comedic take on an obese man's personal struggles with obesity. All in the name of comedy and entertainment. I get it… comedy is an outlet; laughter is good for the soul. But at who's expense? And what are these "talking heads" doing to make a difference to support their loved ones who are fighting the battle of obesity? To support their community and the world in general with healthy, educational programs, camps, exercise groups, and so on? To reverse the obesity epidemic? What do they do to support our OH community?

In our world today, we all need to come together and support the fight against obesity. Obesity is truly no laughing matter and Governor Christie and the OH community members are well aware of that fact.

- President William Howard Taft tipped the scales at well over 300 pounds - President John Adams was overweight and had a eating disorder and would purge himself by taking a vomit of tartar emetic and turpeth mineral. - Five presidents have been "obese" : Taft (42.3 on the BMI), Cleveland (34.6), McKinley (31.1), Taylor (30.2), and Teddy Roosevelt (30.2). Bill Clinton was overweight with a BMI of 28.3.

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