(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-30 10:33

WASHINGTON -- US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's health was in an excellent condition shown from his latest body checkup 16 months ago, his doctor said on Thursday.

US Democratic presidential candidate and US Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) comments on a student presentation at the Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts in Thornton, Colorado May 28, 2008. [Agencies]

Chicago internist Dr. David T. Scheiner, who has been taking care of Obama's health since 1987, summarized his 21 years of medical records in a letter released by Obama's campaign.

According to the letter, the Illinois senator, 46, has no "excess body fat" for he being a regular jogger.

He also had an excellent blood pressure at 90 over 60, and healthy cholesterol level at 173 compared to the normal level of under 200, the doctor said of the result of the checkup in January 2007.

The major potential risk to his health was caused by his longtime habit of smoking, Scheiner added, saying the senator has failed several times to quit it.

Obama's campaign made the move days after his Republican rival, John McCain, released a 2,000-page full medical records in eight years, trying to remove concerns that his ability to lead the nation can be compromised by his age and health.