Karl Stefanovic’s weight loss highlights an ongoing injustice

Karl Stefanovic has been photographed looking noticeably slimmer but his weight loss reveals a sadder truth.

COMMENT

Karl Stefanovic has stepped out looking noticeably slimmer after previously revealing he was aiming to lose weight.

Stefanovic, 48, was spotted wandering around Sydney in a black T-shirt and shorts, looking thinner than he has in years.

The weight loss comes after Stefanovic shared on Today in 2020 that he was on a health kick because he felt embarrassed by how much he weighed.

“I started at 105 kilos, the heaviest I’ve ever been, and it was incredibly embarrassing,” he explained.

Stefanovic even shared that he had a goal weight that he was working towards.

“I’d like to get down to 90kg. You don’t think that is important, but for me, it’s a big psychological thing,” he revealed.

Today Show host Karl Stefanovic steps out solo, to pick up a few groceries in his home suburb of Castlecrag. Picture: MEDIA-MODE.COM

Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic enjoy a family holiday in Port Stephens with baby Harper. Picture: MEDIA-MODE.COM

I’ll be honest; I’ve never cared about what Stefanovic weighs or doesn’t weigh and I’m not the only one.

If we are being realistic, his weight doesn’t define him in the public eye, which I find interesting because it defines so many famous women.

You only have to look at the treatment of Chrissie Swan since she lost weight to realise how obsessed the public is with women’s bodies.

While Swan, 49, has repeatedly explained that she doesn’t want to attribute her weight loss to any diet or particular thing, everyone’s obsessed, and she can’t post an Instagram photo without someone demanding she share how she lost weight.

Karl with his new family. Picture: Instagram

Karl with his daughter Harper. Picture: Instagram

Similarly, Jackie O Henderson’s weight loss journey has been huge news.

Henderson, 48, famously gained weight during the pandemic and has been open about wanting to lose it.

She’s even signed a lucrative deal with Weight Watchers and shared that she’s been snacking on steak slices to help shed the kilos.

People are once again obsessed.

Interesting, isn’t it? Because, although we might pause and look at the Stefanovic weight photos, I don’t think he’ll now spend the rest of his career being asked questions on how he lost the weight, how he is keeping it off, and does he like himself more now.

Chrissie Swan is often asked how she lost weight. Picture: Instagram

Jelena Dokic has been trolled for her weight. Picture: Michael Klein

I also don’t think his general value has gone up. No one is expecting the slimmer version of Stefanovic to suddenly land a huge television deal.

Why? because he already is one of the most famous men in Australia and the size of jeans he wears has never dictated his career.

I don’t think there’s any denying that weight loss for women can often be used as currency – as a way to re-establish themselves in their careers or get some broader appeal.

Often a famous woman will lose weight and suddenly she’ll secure a bunch of brand deals and a few magazine spreads where she waxes lyrical about her new healthier life and how she’s feeling younger then ever.

Yet for men in the public eye their weight doesn’t have any tangible bearing on their careers or popularity.

How much Stefanovic weighs doesn’t define him; perhaps even more interestingly, no one wants him defined by it.

So why don’t we give women that same respect?

It becomes a national spectacle if you’re a woman in the public eye and your body changes.

Tennis star turned commentator Jelena Dokic dared to gain weight and was ruthlessly trolled to the point she’s addressed the backlash several times in lengthy Instagram posts asking people to be kinder.

The general disinterest in Stefanovic’s weight gain and weight loss proves men are afforded a luxury women aren’t, they aren’t defined by their bodies.