Michelle Obama on a covering-up operation?

After her much talked-about public exposure of toned biceps, US first lady Michelle Obama seems to have embarked on a covering-up operation - hiding the flab around her hips with the pleats of her skirt.

"I have hips, and I have them covered up with these pleats," Michelle told The New York Times, pointing to her 'Maria Pinto' skirt.

The 45-year-old American First Lady has also revealed her weakness for hamburgers and chips, but said she had to be careful with her exercise and diet while choosing her clothes carefully, as she was not naturally thin like many others.

And, to keep her hips from spreading, Michelle said that she has to follow an exercise regime of light weights, jump-rope and a cardiovascular routine that includes interval running. "This is work."

By exercising regularly she could occasionally indulge her cravings for chips and dessert, she said. "I could live on French fries. They are my favourite food in the whole world."

Yet, her efforts to teach her daughters about eating right have been successful enough that there are now certain fast-food places - she declined to identify them - where the girls themselves refuse to go.

"Some of them I want to go to, because it's quick and easy, and you figure, 'Well, we ate fine all week, guys, let's go get this'. They're like, 'No, mommy, we won't be eating there'. And I feel like, 'Darn, where are we going to go?'" Michelle was quoted as saying.

She has also claimed that she stopped wearing a grey metallic belt when President Barack Obama is around. "Barack calls it my Star Trek belt. He doesn't understand fashion."