Being the President of the US comes with an unthinkable amount of mental pressure, and having a fit physique can certainly help them do better at the office.

While most US presidents to date did something or the other to maintain fitness. Here's a list of the five US head of state who leave all others behind when it comes to maintaining physical fitness.

George W. Bush

George was the 43rd U.S. president, whose favorite form of exercise is running to stay energetic. At the age of 46, Bush completed the Houston Marathon in 3:44:52, which is a pretty impressive time. 

According to GM Mason Recreation, Bush told Runner’s World that he ran 3 miles a day, six times a week. He further said that if he didn’t, then he prefers:

• Lifting weights
• Stretching
• Elliptical training

He also talked about how running improves his overall health. He said, “Running also enables me to set goals and push myself toward those goals. In essence, it keeps me young. A good run adds a little bounce to my step. I get a certain amount of self-esteem from it. Plus, I just look and feel better.”

Barack Obama

Barack Obama, the 44th US president, started his fitness journey at age 22. To stay in shape, he works out 6 days a week. His training includes:

• Cardio
• Upper body training
• Lower body training
• Body-weight training
• Playing basketball

Apart from this, healthy, nutritious, and well-balanced eating is equally important for Obama. He prefers fiber-dense foods like:

• A lot of veggies 
• Fruits

To meet his daily dose of essential supplements, Obama consumes folic acid, protein, and calcium. He occasionally indulges in caramel chocolates. This perfect balance of regular training and healthy eating is the true secret to his fitness and energy. 

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. president, was known for his fitness and his ideology of pushing himself to his physical limits. To maintain his body, Roosevelt indulges in a variety of exercises such as:

• Horse riding
• Wrestling 
• Boxing
• Playing tennis
• Jiu-Jitsu 
• Judo

According to BarBend, he died at the age of 60. Vice President of the U.S. Thomas Riley Marshall said, “Death had to take him sleeping, for if Roosevelt had been awake, there would have been a fight.”

Harry S. Truman

The 33rd U.S. president was Harry S. Truman, who preferred a lower-calorie-dense diet. His diet includes:

• Fruits
• Lots of vegetables
• Dairy

Apart from eating, Truman also indulges in an exercise regimen. His workout chronicles were kept inside the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. One of his favorite exercises is walking early in the morning for 1.5 miles, with a target of 120 steps per minute.  

Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford was the 38th U.S. president, who was a linebacker and also played center in football for 2 season at the University of Michigan. He also had the chance to play professionally with the Packers and the Lions, but he chose to attend law school. 

Ford is the one who installed the White House pool, where he regularly swam. According to the post shared by “whitehousehistory” on April 18, 2025, on Instagram. His workout includes:

• Weight lifting
• Calisthenics (10 minutes)
• Stationary bike ride (half-mile)

So, do you agree with our list? If not, which US president would you like to add to it?

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Souvik Roy