Former President Trump has spoken about his drastic weight loss for the first time – claiming he has lost around 20lbs this campaign cycle. 

Trump – whose love of fast food is well documented – has appeared much more svelte in recent months, which has prompted speculation he is taking weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy.

But the 77-year-old’s explanation for his dramatic physical change was more traditional. He told Fox News‘ Brian Kilmeade: ‘[I did it] the hard way. I work.’

Trump, the favorite for the GOP nominee for President, said he was in ‘fighting shape’ and had lost between 15 and 20 pounds since the campaign began.  

But health experts have told DailyMail.com in recent weeks that Mr Trump has appeared more frail, confused and gaffe-prone than usual amid a backdrop of arduous legal battles – which could be linked to his sudden weight-loss.

Trump is pictured golfing in September 2022 where he was noticeably bigger

Trump is pictured from August 2023 visibly more svelte and looking more rested

Trump was interviewed by Fox News on Trump Force One on Monday. 

He said: ‘I’ve been so busy I haven’t been able to eat very much. I’m not able to sit down and eat like a person like you – you can sit down and eat. Me, it’s a little bit tougher.’

Dr Carolyn Williams, a licensed dietitian based in Alabama, told DailyMail.com that it definitely appears as though Trump has lost fat – especially the bad kind that causes health problems.

‘He has lost some weight, particularly in the abdominal area where visceral fat is stored,’ she said.

Visceral fat is stored in the abdomen and surrounds vital organs such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines. Having too much of it has been linked to a litany of health issues, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

But her assessment was not entirely positive.

Dr Williams added: ‘What’s less clear is how healthy his approach is for losing this weight and maintaining it. 

‘Skipping meals due to scheduling and/or stress isn’t a long-term solution. If this is the case, he’s likely lacking some key nutrients – ones like fiber, potassium, calcium, and vitamin D – in his diet unless he’s focusing on nutrient-dense foods when he does find time for a meal.’

Dr Stuart Fischer, a New York City-based internal medicine physician told DailyMail.com that the weight loss could be indicative of over-exertion.

He said: ‘In a way he’s competing with his older self from many years ago. He cannot convince anyone that he’s the picture of health and he shouldn’t try to convince people he’s as fit as he used to be.’

The former President’s penchant for fast food is known the world over. He told Fox News that he does not have time to eat as a normal person would because of his busy schedule, but did not disclose what his diet consists of  

Most recently, Mr Trump repeatedly confused Nikki Haley, his one remaining Republican primary challenger, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was one of the lawmakers trapped inside the Capitol when his supporters stormed the building in 2021. 

When speaking at a rally in Concord, New Hampshire, Trump said: ‘You know, by the way, they never report the crowd on Jan. 6. You know, Nikki Haley, Nikki Haley, Nikki Haley. Nikki Haley, you know they, do you know they destroyed all of the information, all of the evidence, everything, deleted and destroyed all of it? All of it because of lots of things like Nikki Haley in charge of security. We offered her 10,000 people, soldiers, National Guard, whatever they want. They turned it down.’

Ms Haley was in South Carolina on Jan. 6. 

Dr Williams said that while his recent stumbles could not be tied necessarily to poor eating habits, ‘most have probably noticed at times in the past that their cognition and memory skills don’t operate at their best when blood sugar is low or the their body is lacking key energy and key nutrients.

‘When you combine the high level of stress he’s likely experiencing from being on trial and on the election trail, it’s likely that his diet may not be helping him.’

His weight was reportedly helped thanks to his wife Melania, who insiders have said is helping him eat healthier and avoid the Mar-a-Lago dessert buffet. 

Dr Daniel Rosen, a New York-based bariatric surgeon, told DailyMail.com: ‘There’s also the stress of being indicted on four separate cases on 91 counts. The extreme stress of something like that is worth considering. Stress for some people can lead to weight loss.’ 

Last fall, Trump’s doctor Bruce Aronwald of New Jersey issued a positive but vague assessment of the former president’s health, calling it ‘excellent’, adding that he has recently lost weight through ‘improved diet’ and ‘daily physical activity’. 

But the report did not include his weight, blood pressure, what medications he takes, his cholesterol, or even how much weight he had dropped.  

While Mr Trump may be in ‘fighting shape’ physically, recent gaffes and nonsensical phrases on the campaign trail have refueled worries about his cognitive abilities. 

Dr Fischer added: ‘He’s pushing himself a little too hard. If you’re at this pont of frenetic energy and you’re not even near the goal line of the race, you have to pace yourself.’ 

At a Saturday rally in the Granite State, Mr Trump struggled to say the word ‘climate’ and instead stuck with the word ‘clime’ when discussing electric vehicles: ‘They don’t work well in cold weather… it’s certainly not great for your clime. Your clime. They call it climate.’ 

And at a rally Monday in Laconia, New Hampshire, Trump garbled his words and struggled to get a sentence out when he uttered: ‘We have become a drug-infested, crime-ridden nation which is incapable of solvin’ even the swollest – smallest problem. 

‘We are an institute in a powerful death penalty. We will put this on.’ 

Trump’s mistakes in New Hampshire were the latest of several during this election cycle. At an event on Veteran’s day, Mr Trump referred to former President Barack Obama as the ‘current president’.

Trump has railed against attacks on his intellect and cognitive abilities, frequently referencing a test he ‘aced’ in 2018. 

That test, known as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, was designed to help doctors detect mild cognitive impairment and the early onset of dementia. 

Nikki Haley is trailing behind the former president who now has a commanding lead in the national polls of 67 percent in favor of his re-election.