A routine physical was passed by U. S. President Barack Obama on Sunday and he also met with wounded service members at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

New York Daily News reported that the physical found Obama in "excellent health" and "fit for duty", but doctors also included a recommendation that the president "continue smoking cessation efforts."

The White House released a statement saying, "At no time was it necessary to temporarily transfer presidential authority under Section 3 of the 25th Amendment," though there was no immediate official word on the physical's results.

Section 3 says when a president sends a written declaration to the president pro tempore of the U. S.. Senate and the speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives saying he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the presidency, the vice president takes over as acting president until the president sends a written message he or she is able to resume his or her duties.

The president arrived by helicopter at the facility at about 6:40 a. m. EST, and left the hospital a little before 9:30 a. m., a pool report said. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama's physical was performed by Dr. Jeff Kuhlman, a Navy captain and head of the White House medical unit.

The pool further reported that with some preliminary testing gotten out of the way earlier, the physical lasted about an hour and a half.

Gibbs said that Kuhlman recommended the president get his next physical when he turns 50 in August 2011.

Gibbs further added that while at Bethesda, Obama also visited with 12 service members who were injured in Iraq or Afghanistan. (With input form agencies)