Controversial author Ed Klein claims Hillary Clinton does have the White House in her sights for 2016 but only “if her health holds out”.

Ed Klein claims the Secretary of State, now 64, is planning to take time off to “get back into shape” but – in comments that are unlikely to be welcomed by Hillary Clinton – remarked that she looks “overweight” and “very tired’.

The author – the man behind books including The Truth About Hillary and a former New York Times editor – says Hillary Clinton will only be able to make a White House bid “if her health holds out” and “that’s a big if, of course”.

In an interview on America’s Fox News Radio, Ed Klein said: “At this very moment that we’re speaking right now… [the Clintons] are already thinking seriously about running in 2016.

“She’ll be 69 years old. And as you know – and I don’t want to sound anti-feminist here – but she’s not looking good these days. She’s looking overweight, and she’s looking very tired.”

Ed Klein added: “And if her health holds out – that’s a big if, of course – if her health holds out, there’s no question in my mind she and Bill – two for the price of one – will run in 2016.”

In May, photos taken of the former First Lady during visits to Bangladesh and India, showed the Secretary of State looking tired and withdrawn – far from the well-coiffed image she has maintained over the past two decades in politics.

The images – in which she was make-up free, casually dressed and wearing glasses – came as she claimed she had no desire to make another bid for the White House because she wanted a rest.

Ed Klein claims Hillary Clinton does have the White House in her sights for 2016 but only if her health holds out

In January, Hillary Clinton announced that she was ready to step off the “high wire” of U.S. politics altogether.

“I have made it clear that I will certainly stay on until the president nominates someone and that transition can occur” if Barack Obama is re-elected, she told a town hall meeting.

“But I think after 20 years, and it will be 20 years, of being on the high wire of American politics and all of the challenges that come with that, it would be probably a good idea to just find out how tired I am.”

However, Hillary Clinton took the time to sharply rebuff comments made by her detractors that focused solely on her appearance.

In an interview last month, Hillary Clinton laughed at the attention she had received for her sense of style, especially after the photographs of her make-up-free face.

Hillary Clinton was photographed with an all-natural look at press events held in Bangladesh and India after completing a whirlwind, three-day tour of the region.

She told CNN: “You know, at some point, it’s just not something that deserves a lot of time and attention.”

The Secretary of State added: “I feel so relieved to be at the stage I’m at in my life right now… and if others want to worry about it, I let them do the worrying for a change.

“Because you know, if I want to wear my glasses I’m wearing my glasses. If I want to wear my hair back I’m pulling my hair back.”

Hillary Clinton was referring to the attention she received after a member of staff criticized her frequent use of hair scrunchies.

The Democrat has appeared to make some slight sartorial changes, toning down her once-gaudy colored trouser suits in recent months.

She also became to subject of an Internet meme, Texts From Hillary, which shifted the focus from the Secretary of State’s appearance to her relentless routine of international travel, high-powered meetings and 24/7 attention to her Blackberry.

Hillary Clinton is far from the first high-profile female politician to have attracted comments about her appearance.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy commented loudly and uncharitably on the quantity of cheese Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel consumed at a dinner, while Sarah Palin, the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, was criticized for her $150,000 designer wardrobe.

Ed Klein, 75, is a former New York Times magazine editor who has written extensively about the Kennedys and Hillary Clinton.