The Today Show host said that the weight gain wasn’t just a physical issue but was also beginning to impact his self-confidence.

At his heaviest, he was fronting breakfast television every morning, so he was constantly looking at his own appearance.

“I was always physically active, but I just couldn’t budge this weight. I couldn’t budge it, my man, and I was racking my brain, and my self-confidence suffered. And I think a lot of guys go through that,” he said.

“The doctor said, ‘Why don’t you go on a (medication) for a short amount of time that can kickstart your system, lose some weight, and get off it, and hopefully get on the right path. So I did that, and I have not looked back.”

The 51-year-old father of four spoke about his weight loss journey on his podcast The Karl Stefanovic Showduring a candid chat with men’s health expert Dr Alex Tatem.

“About two years ago, I’m 51 now, I was really, really overweight, like you know, 15 kilos heavier than I am now,” he said.

“I went to the doctor, and the doctor said, you know, essentially you’re unhealthy. I was always physically active, but I just couldn’t budge the weight.”

The Today Show host said that the weight gain wasn’t just a physical issue but was also beginning to impact his self-confidence.

At his heaviest, he was fronting breakfast television every morning, so he was constantly looking at his own appearance.

“I was always physically active, but I just couldn’t budge this weight. I couldn’t budge it, my man, and I was racking my brain, and my self-confidence suffered. And I think a lot of guys go through that,” he said.

“The doctor said, ‘Why don’t you go on a (medication) for a short amount of time that can kickstart your system, lose some weight, and get off it, and hopefully get on the right path. So I did that, and I have not looked back.”

Stefanovic, who has since lost 15 kilos and has been taking the podcasting world by storm explained that he thinks for men in particular, there’s such “stigma” attached to getting medical help with weight loss.

“I think there were a lot of, you know, social pressures out there,” he said.

He explained that instead of people congratulating him on losing the weight, they were critical of how he had lost it.

The podcast host explained he found that kind of response unfair because, at the end of the day, he was just trying to take care of his health.

“I was like, come on, I’m just wanting, I want to do something about my health because I feel like I’m ageing disgracefully!”

“And it’s just not healthy for my system.”

Stefanovic shared that taking the doctor’s advice made a huge difference to him, helping him get back on track with his health.

“So I did that, and literally, I was only on it for like three months, but it made a huge difference to me,” he said.

“I was able to be more physical. I controlled what I was eating, and I was able to kickstart a healthier lifestyle as a result.”

Stefanovic also said his youngest daughter, Harper, 5, was also a huge motivator to get fit and stay on the health train.

“She turned six in a couple of days. I was on a one-way ticket to a heart attack. I’m telling you right now, and now that I’ve started the ball rolling, I don’t want to stop,” he said.

“I don’t want to stop on this train, on this health train, cutting back on alcohol, watching what I eat,” he said.

“I’m hitting the gym two or three times a week. I’m going for walks. It’s changed my life!”

SOURCE: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/celebrity-photos/i-couldnt-budge-the-weight-karl-stefanovic-details-the-health-fear-behind-his-weight-loss/news-story/25d26f89a5a22e5d8f790fb6df5427be