Obamas talk health care, fitness with health magazines

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle discussed health care and personal fitness in two companion interviews to appear in Men's Health and Women's Health magazines, respectively, next week, according to a partial transcript provided by Reuters. 

In his bit, Obama implored Americans to live healthier lifestyles, briefly describing his personal six-day workout schedule. But the president quickly morphed his message into an argument for health care reform, noting that healthy living means nothing unless lawmakers also solve the country's insurance crisis.

"It's important for us to recognize that even if Americans were a lot healthier than they are now -- had reduced our obesity rates below where they are now -- we still would have probably one of the most inefficient health care systems out there," Obama said. "So how we change our delivery systems, how we make sure that people have coverage so that they're not going to the hospital for very expensive emergency-room care-those are all issues that have to be dealt with as well."

The president also addressed a soda "sin tax" as "an idea that [lawmakers] should be exploring," but he refuted claims that his administration was embarking on an all-out "war on obesity."

The First Lady, meanwhile, fielded questions about her personal role in the ongoing health care debate.

"I intend to advocate for the issues I care most about: access to primary care, [disease] prevention, wellness, nutrition, and combating childhood obesity," Michelle Obama explained. "These issues get directly to the heart of the health care debate. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and are an incredible drain on the system."

Her interview concluded with a brief discussion of her fashion sense, which has drawn the full gamut of reactions from both critics and voters recently.

"For me fashion is fun, and it's supposed to help you feel good about yourself," the First Lady explained. "I think that's what all women should focus on: what makes them happy and feel comfortable and beautiful. I wear what I love. Sometimes people like it, sometimes they don't. I'm fine with that."