Ireland

Health-conscious taoiseach (40) 'surprised' to be told he has fitness levels of a 53-year-old

The taoiseach, who is a keen runner, taking part in a 5K team challenge in Dublin back in 2014.
The taoiseach, who is a keen runner, taking part in a 5K team challenge in Dublin back in 2014. The taoiseach, who is a keen runner, taking part in a 5K team challenge in Dublin back in 2014.

TAIOSEACH Leo Varadkar may have just turned 40 less than a month ago but a health show has calculated he has the overall fitness levels of a 53-year-old.

The former minister for health and sport was one of several high-profile personalities who had their metabolic ages calculated in a series of tests on RTÉ's Operation Transformation programme.

He appeared disappointed at the results, questioning the science behind the assessment.

"Surprised to hear that, kinda wondering about the science," he said immediately afterwards.

Just last month, the Taoiseach admitted he had cut down on his red meat consumption for both health and environmental reasons.

The Fine Gael leader is also understood to exercise at least three times a week and in 2017 took part in the Dublin City Triathlon, which included a 750m swim in the River Liffey, a 20km cycle around the Phoenix Park and a 5km run to the finish line.

He even joined Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on a run through the Phoenix Park during the premier's visit to Dublin the same year.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Metabolic age measures a person's overall health and fitness levels and is calculated using the Basal Metabolic Rate, the amount of energy or kilocalories burned each day before activity, compared with other people in the same age group.

The fitter you are, the better and lower your metabolic age.

One of the other participants in the show, former camogie player Anna Geary (30), had her metabolic age calculated at 16.