Gov. Chris Christie gives New Jersey National Guard leader 90 days to slim down over Pentagon's fitness reprimand

  • Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Cunniff was cited by the Pentagon and for repeatedly dodging fitness tests
  • He last flunked in 2013, when his waist size was measured at 43.5 inches — 4.5 inches larger than what was allowed
  • Airmen are supposed to submit to fitness evaluations biannually 
  • It was not clear how much weight the general must lose in order to, as Christie said, 'meet his obligations'
  • Christie, who once called himself 'the healthiest fat guy you've ever seen,' secretly underwent weight-loss surgery in 2013

By Associated Press and Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 08:16 EST, 22 September 2015 | Updated: 23:01 EST, 22 September 2015

Gov. Chris Christie wants the leader of New Jersey's National Guard to shape up.

The governor, whose own weight prior to Lap-Band surgery was estimated at as high was 350 pounds, has given Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Cunniff 90 days to slim down and meet his obligations.

The action comes after Christie's staff told The Washington Post that the governor was unaware the general had been reprimanded by the Pentagon about his weight and for repeatedly dodging physical-fitness tests.

Official order: Gov. Chris Christie has given Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Cunniff 90 days to slim down and meet his obligations

Official order: Gov. Chris Christie has given Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Cunniff 90 days to slim down and meet his obligations

The newspaper obtained the records under the Freedom of Information Act.

Christie declined a request for an interview.

'The Governor has expressed directly to the General that his failure to meet that standard or to provide notification of his formal reprimand is both unacceptable and disappointing,' Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts said in an emailed statement.

The governor has given Cunniff 90 days to slim down and 'meet his obligations,' Roberts wrote. 

Cunniff took a fitness test in November 2013, his first in more than three years. He flunked when his waist size was measured at 43.5 inches — 4.5 inches larger than what was allowed.

According to the Air Force personnel website, airmen are supposed to submit to biannual fitness checks, which include

  • Body composition evaluation administered by measuring abdominal circumference
  • Aerobic component evaluated by a 1.5-mile timed run
  • Muscular fitness component evaluated by the number of push-up and sit-ups completed within one minute

It was not clear how much weight the general must lose. 

Cunniff was named to head up the New Jersey National Guard after the previous leader--a childhood friend of Christie's--resigned following a scandal over his marital infidelity

Cunniff was named to head up the New Jersey National Guard after the previous leader--a childhood friend of Christie's--resigned following a scandal over his marital infidelity

Failed: Cunniff took a fitness test in November 2013, his first in more than three years. He flunked when his waist size was measured at 43.5 inches — 4.5 inches larger than what was allowed

Failed: Cunniff took a fitness test in November 2013, his first in more than three years. He flunked when his waist size was measured at 43.5 inches — 4.5 inches larger than what was allowed

Cunniff declined an interview request. But the National Guard released a statement in which the general acknowledged he failed to meet the Air Force's fitness requirements in recent years.

'Many people struggle with weight control — I am not immune from this,' the general said in the statement. 'However, I do recognize that military members and leaders, like myself, are held to a higher standard. 

'I take this matter seriously and am taking the necessary steps to remedy this issue,' the general said.

Christie, who once called himself 'the healthiest fat guy you've ever seen,' secretly underwent weight-loss surgery in 2013. A band was surgically placed around his stomach to restrict how much food he could eat.

The governor hasn't said how many pounds he's shed, but he has become noticeably thinner since undergoing the surgery in February 2013.

The 2016 Republican presidential candidate has said he's struggled with being overweight his entire adult life.

LAP BAND SURGERY: HOW CHRISTIE DROPPED WEIGHT BEFORE PREZ BID

Adjustable gastric banding - often referred to as Lap-Band surgery - is considered the least invasive of the weight loss surgeries.

It involves an inflatable device placed around the top portion of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch.

The surgery is intended to slow consumption of food and so reduce the quantity of food consumed.

The procedure is often done on an outpatient basis and the surgery typically takes less than an hour.

Weight loss is usually gradual and steady. The band can be adjusted by a doctor after the initial surgery.

Risks include obstructions, band slippage, difficulty swallowing, infection and nutritional deficiency. 

Speaks from experience: Christie (seen here in Aug. 2013), who once called himself 'the healthiest fat guy you've ever seen,' secretly underwent weight-loss surgery in 2013

Governor Christie (here at James Gandolfini's funeral in June 2013) hasn't said how many pounds he's shed, but he has become noticeably thinner since undergoing the surgery in February 2013

Governor Christie (here at James Gandolfini's funeral in June 2013) hasn't said how many pounds he's shed, but he has become noticeably thinner since undergoing the surgery in February 2013

 

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