The health of presidents in the United States - Statistics & Facts
The president of the United States is arguably one of the most important positions in the world. Therefore, it is understandable that the people of the United States want their leader to be both mentally and physically fit. However, throughout history a number of U.S. presidents have had health complications, many hidden from the public. The issue of presidential health came to the forefront after the presidential debate on June 27th, 2024, in which President Joe Biden, the oldest sitting president in history at 81 at the time of the debate, appeared visibly frail and sometimes incoherent. Biden’s poor performance and low rates of favorability led many democrats to call for him to step away from the presidential race and on July 21 he announced that he would not seek reelection. Biden is the oldest man to be elected president as he was 78 years old when he assumed office in 2021. However, Trump is the second oldest man to be elected to the office as he was almost 71 when he was elected, meaning the health of the president could still likely be a relevant issue in the near future.
Biden released the results of his latest annual physical in February 2024, and while it did say he had or was being treated for a basal cell carcinoma, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux, and a stiffened gait, the report concluded he was healthy and fit enough to perform his duties as president. However, Biden refused calls for him to take a cognitive test following his poor performance at the debate against Trump in June and, when he was still in the race, did not plan to have another physical exam before the election in November. Concerns over Biden's age and health greatly contributed to calls for him not to seek reelection.
Who is healthier, Biden or Trump?
It is impossible to say who is healthier when comparing Biden and Trump as both men naturally want to promote themselves as healthy and capable, and there are no legal requirements for presidents or presidential candidates to reveal their personal health to the public. However, as is the case with revealing tax history, modern presidents have traditionally provided medical reports to the public. For example, George W. Bush and Barack Obama both provided detailed reports of their health checkups. When Trump was in office, he also provided the conclusions of his physical exams, but like with his taxes, he was less open and forthcoming than his predecessors. Trump’s medical reports have often lacked details which have led many to speculate about how healthy he really is. Trump is one of the heaviest men to ever be president and was technically obese while in office. Obesity is a growing problem in the United States with those who are overweight or obese at an increased risk of a number of health issues including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.Biden released the results of his latest annual physical in February 2024, and while it did say he had or was being treated for a basal cell carcinoma, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux, and a stiffened gait, the report concluded he was healthy and fit enough to perform his duties as president. However, Biden refused calls for him to take a cognitive test following his poor performance at the debate against Trump in June and, when he was still in the race, did not plan to have another physical exam before the election in November. Concerns over Biden's age and health greatly contributed to calls for him not to seek reelection.
