Kathy Bates sets record straight on weight loss, credits lifestyle changes, diet, and Ozempic

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kathy Bates, 76, confirmed that she lost some 100 lbs of her weight using Ozempic.

The Oscar-winning actress clarified that the bulk of her transformation came from lifestyle and diet changes over the past seven years.

Kathy Bates addresses Ozempic rumors

Kathy Bates revealed she shed 80 lbs through hard work and another 20 lbs using Ozempic, setting the record straight on the rumors surrounding her weight loss journey.

“There’s been a lot of talk that I just was able to do this because of Ozempic,” Bates told People.

“But I have to impress upon people out there that this was hard work for me, especially during the pandemic. It’s very hard to say you’ve had enough,” she added.

Her motivation to change her lifestyle stemmed from her type 2 diabetes diagnosis seven years ago. “I ate because I was afraid, and I ate because it was a FU to my self-esteem,” said Bates who won an Oscar for her role in 'Misery'.

“Diabetes runs in my family, and I’d seen what my father had gone through. He had had a leg amputation. One of my sisters is dealing with it very seriously, and it terrified me. It scared me straight,” Bates, known for her role as Molly Brown in 'Titanic', added.

Kathy Bates shares new approach to food and health

Kathy Bates, currently starring in CBS's 'Matlock' reboot, credited her niece for giving her valuable advice about listening to her body.

“When we’re full, we experience an involuntary sigh. I just pushed the plate away,” Bates shared.

Despite her past struggles with eating habits like "burgers and Cokes and Pizza," she stopped eating after 8 pm and now focuses on healthier eating, although still allowing herself occasional treats.

Bates is happy that her weight loss has coincided with Matlock. "I can stand up all day long and walk and move and breathe and do so many things that I couldn’t before," she said.

For now, her biggest challenge is to figure out the workout routine on the set. "I'm worried about because I won't be on set running back and forth," she said, adding "I have a treadmill here at the house, and I might try Pilates."

How has weight loss helped Kathy Bates? 

Kathy Bates, who underwent a double mastectomy after her breast cancer diagnosis in 2012 and ovarian cancer in 2003, said her weight loss has had a positive impact on her lymphedema.

"It's been a tremendous benefit for me," she noted. Bates, who works with the National Commission on Lymphatic Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hopes her story will inspire others.

"That’s what 'Misery' did,” Bates said, adding "It gave me a [recognizable] face and a way to help in the real world.”

Reflecting on her current journey, Bates said, “This period of my life is just so exciting,” adding “It’s emotional.”