Bill Clinton named PETA's 2010 Person of the Year

Former US President Bill Clinton has been named PETA'S 2010 Person of the Year.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) applauded Clinton, who was known for gobbling fast food in the Oval Office, for recently adopting veganism.

"Thanks to his new plant-based diet, he's shed some pounds, decreased his risk of future heart problems and spared the lives of many animals," the New York Daily News quoted the organisation as saying in a press release.

Prior to Clinton daughter's marriage, she asked him to loose some pounds. In September, he had told CNN that he lost 24 pounds only because of his new diet.

"I live on beans, legumes, vegetables, fruit. I drink a protein supplement every morning. No dairy," he had said.

The former president embraced the new diet plan after he was hospitalised for having chest pains in February. He also had a quadruple bypass surgery in 2004.

He said his new food groups were doing a world of good for his health woes.

"I did all this research, and I saw that 82 percent of the people since 1986 who have gone on a plant-based, no dairy, no meat of any kind, no chicken, no turkey-I eat very little fish, once in a while I'll have a little fish," he said. "If you can do it, 82 percent of people have begun to heal themselves."

PETA also agreed saying, "By choosing a plant-based diet, President Clinton has spared the lives of nearly 200 animals a year and reduced his risk of cancer, strokes, and other diseases."