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Chris Christie

Michelle Obama: Chris Christie is 'terrific'

Catalina Camia, USA TODAY
Michelle Obama participates in an awards ceremony in the White House East Room.

Michelle Obama didn't exactly come out and say what she thinks about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's weight-loss surgery, but she tied his long struggle with his heaviness to her quest for children to adopt healthier lifestyles.

In an NBC News interview that aired Wednesday, Obama was asked to comment on Christie's surprise revelation that he had gastric banding surgery in February. She said it is a "very personal matter" for the governor and his family, adding she doesn't "comment on people's personal choices."

Obama has been promoting her book, American Grown, which she wrote last year to spotlight the White House kitchen garden and the benefits of eating healthfully. She is also behind "Let's Move," a campaign to get children to exercise and eat right.

"There are millions of people like the governor who struggle with adulthood obesity and that's one of the reasons why I think 'Let's Move' is so important," the first lady said on NBC. "Because we want to start working with kids when they're young, so that they don't have these direct challenges when they get older."

Obama did send good wishes to the Republican, calling him "terrific" and his family "wonderful."

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