Chris Christie is looking slimmer and a little more fit these days! Could this be to squash those who criticize the heavyweight politician for being to unhealthy to run for president?

Experts estimate that Christie has lost about 85 pounds. After admitting in May of last year that he had undergone lap band surgery, Christie’s cardiologist said that the governor is helping by keeping “a healthy diet and regular cardiovascular exercise regimen.”

Since the now-infamous “Elephant in the Room” Time cover, and even before, Christie has garnered criticism for his overweight appearance and his resulting bad health.

Michael Kinsley writes on Bloomberg View on September 29th, 2011, “Look, I’m sorry, but New Jersey Governor Chris Christie cannot be president: He is just too fat.”

However, Christie had supporters out there like Jonathan Chait of New York magazine who argued that Christie’s weight is completely irrelevant to his presidential campaign ambitions. He said that “American elites view obesity with disgust, and they’re repulsed at the notion that a very fat guy could rise to a position of symbolic leadership.”

Christie is now reportedly shedding that weight for a much more important reason. His family.

“This is a hell of a lot more important to me than running for president,” Christie says when the news of his surgery goes public. “This is about my family’s future.”

Back in October of 2013, a report from Christie’s doctor stated that, “Governor Christie has normal blood work … He has no medical limitations and is fit to serve as the Governor of the state of New Jersey.”

Or to serve as president. Obviously it wouldn’t hurt the confidence of the American people that his chances of dying in office should he become president would be….slimmer.

But should his weight be this big of an issue to people? Who is more correct in their assesment of the Chris Christie weight issue, Michael Kinsley or Jonathan Chait?

Image Via Wikimedia Commons