People Pets

Bo Obama Is on a Diet

08/22/2012 at 05:00 PM EDT

More than half the pet dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese, and it seems one of them lives at the White House.

President Barack Obama advised the young guests at the first ever Kids' State Dinner on Monday against passing any helpings to the First Dog, according to U.S. News & World Report.

"I only have one request for you," Obama told the 54 winners of First Lady Michelle Obama's healthy recipe competition, "and that is try not to drop any scraps on the floor."

"Bo is on a diet right now," he said, "and he will eat anything that he sees, especially some of the tasty meals that you guys have prepared."

PHOTOS: Happy Anniversary, Bo Obama!

Had the now portly Portuguese water dog – who in the past had been known to enjoy healthy treats like broccoli – found any table scraps at the lunch, he wouldn't have suffered too terrible a setback: the meal included a quinoa salad, cabbage sloppy joes and a strawberry smoothie.

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