The former head of the Federal Chancellery, Helge Braun (CDU), has lost at least 20 kilograms, as reported by the "Bild" newspaper.
The current chairman of the Bundestag budget committee posted a photo from his constituency in Gießen on Instagram, which shows him significantly slimmer than when he was in Angela Merkel's cabinet.
Compliments could be read under the picture that showed Braun when he visited the animal shelter in Giessen on the occasion of his 60th birthday: »Great weight loss.
Class."
Braun himself told the newspaper that being overweight with advancing age is a health risk.
"In the run-up to my 50th birthday, it was important to me to reduce my health risks," said the 49-year-old.
tfb/AFP