Some people vanish from the public eye and reappear with altered appearances, and no one is sure what to say about them. Because Alan Kohler never vanished, his situation is a little more complicated than that. He continued to write his twice-weekly columns, appear on ABC News, and explain bond yields and central bank decisions to a nation that actually pays attention to him. However, people began to notice something different at some point in the last year or so. He appeared more slender. Noticeably thinner.
Earlier this year, seasoned broadcaster Phillip Adams made it clear on X. “The admirable Alan Kohler has lost a lot of weight,” he said. “Hope he’s okay.” It received over 330 likes, which is essentially a standing ovation in Australian media circles. With a mix of sincere worries from devoted viewers and the typical online conjecture that usually follows any public figure’s physical transformation, the response thread quickly filled. It was unclear what was causing it.
But it’s what Kohler himself has been writing about that makes this moment truly fascinating. He was producing some of his best work on the GLP-1 weight loss drug revolution—Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro—around the same time that people started to notice the change in his appearance. This class of pharmaceuticals has grown to be one of the most disruptive forces in both healthcare and global business. He wrote about the $1.5 trillion valuation of Eli Lilly. He monitored Walmart’s observations that consumers were purchasing less food. He discussed the Rabobank study that found eating habits were changing throughout entire economies. Perhaps this was just a case of journalistic timing. Another possibility is that the coverage has a more intimate undertone.
To the best of the public’s knowledge, Kohler has never acknowledged taking any weight-loss drugs. That is important. Making assumptions about someone’s health decisions based only on their appearance would be unjust. He has written about these medications with a level of engagement and specificity that goes beyond standard financial coverage. His 2023 article for The New Daily about Ozempic’s ripple effects through food companies, manufacturers of sleep apnea devices, and alcohol brands was especially incisive; it was witty, detailed, and had the slightly irritated tone of someone who finds the business world’s sluggish reaction to clear change to be a little annoying. That’s traditional Kohler. However, there was also a sense of intimacy with the topic.
It’s worthwhile to consider the larger picture here. Since 2020, sales of GLP-1 medications have increased almost tenfold in Australia, where about 200,000 people currently take them. These are not over-the-counter drugs used covertly. GPs prescribe them, they are discussed at dinner parties, and they are covered in mainstream financial journalism, sometimes by the same journalists whose appearances cause colleagues to tweet about them. Slowly but surely, the stigma associated with medication use and weight is changing.
Whether on purpose or not, Kohler’s predicament captures a cultural moment in which the distinction between reporting on something and actually experiencing it has become increasingly hazy. He wrote about how consumption patterns were being altered by GLP-1 medications. By 2035, he said, 24 million Americans might be using them. With his typical forensic composure, he monitored the business ramifications. As he was delivering the finance segment on ABC, viewers noticed that something had changed.
It’s difficult not to find that subtly intriguing. Not in a tabloid sense, but rather in the way that a journalist’s life experiences can occasionally give their work a sharper, more nuanced, and more authentic quality. It is genuinely unclear whether that is the case in this instance. Kohler hasn’t directly discussed the weight loss in public, and it’s polite to leave that area open.
What is certain is that he continues to be one of Australia’s most reliable financial commentators, making frequent appearances and penning columns that simplify difficult subjects without being patronizing. His appearance may have changed, but there doesn’t seem to be any change in the caliber of his thinking. If anything, it seems like he has multiple perspectives on the GLP-1 story after working through it over the past two years. And perhaps that’s sufficient.
FAQs
Q1: Has Alan Kohler confirmed using Ozempic or any weight loss drug?
No public confirmation of any weight loss medication has ever been made by Kohler.
Q2: Who first publicly commented on Alan Kohler’s weight loss?
Veteran broadcaster Phillip Adams raised it on X, expressing concern for Kohler’s wellbeing.
Q3: What has Alan Kohler written about weight loss drugs?
He covered GLP-1 drugs’ massive business impact across food, healthcare, and global markets.
Q4: How popular are weight loss drugs in Australia right now?
Around 200,000 Australians currently use GLP-1 medications, with sales increasing nearly tenfold since 2020.
Q5: Is Alan Kohler still actively working as a journalist?
Yes, he continues presenting on ABC News and writing regular financial columns.
