Daytime chat show host Ellen Degeneres challenged the US first lady, who was on the programme promoting her healthy eating and fitness program, to a push up contest to prove she practiced what she preached, the Telegraph writes.

The US first lady accepted the push-up challenge from Ellen DeGeneres on her pre-recorded TV talk show, and completed 25 in front of a studio audience.

"I thought it wouldn't be good to show up the first lady so I stopped," quipped DeGeneres after stopping first. "Because I thought this looks bad that I'm going to beat her. I'm 54 and you're 48."

Michelle Obama was in Los Angeles promoting her "Let's Move" campaign. On Tuesday she appeared on The Tonight Show feeding host Jay Leno food she had brought food from the White House kitchen garden. She also visited a local market that plans to increase the availability of fruits and vegetables to customers.

Her appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show was taped on Wednesday in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on Thursday.

During the show, Mrs Obama also revealed some bedroom secrets regarding husband Barack.

He doesn't pick up his socks.

"He thinks he's neat but he has people who help him. I'm like it's not you that's neat. It's the people who pick up your socks. Those are the neat people," she told DeGeneres.