‘Greyer, thinner’ one year into the US job

BARACK OBAMA conceded yesterday that he has lost a bit of weight and become somewhat greyer during his first year as US president, but said he remains healthy despite the relentless demands of his job.

“This has been an extraordinary year, less for me than for the American people: two wars, worst financial crisis since the Great Depression,” Obama told NBC television.

“I would be lying if I said that, you know, those aren’t some weighty questions that I carry around on my shoulders every day.”

The lanky US leader said that his recent apparent weight loss is in line with what has always been.

“My weight fluctuates by 14kg — it has for years,” he said. “I’m still wearing some of the same stuff I did when I got married 17 years ago.”

“My hair’s gotten a lot greyer, there’s no doubt about that, but I’m not sure that’s [not] just because I was about the age where my hair was going to start getting grey.”

Despite the challenges, “I’m confident that a lot of the work that we’ve done is going to be paying off,” Obama said.

Meanwhile, Obama’s job approval rating has dipped below 50% nationally for the first time. The Quinnipiac University poll showed 48% of Americans approve of the way Obama is handling his job as president, compared to 42% who disapprove.