Kathy Bates has addressed rumours about her weight loss, clarifying that it was largely achieved through lifestyle and dietary changes over several years, with the final 20 lbs. aided by Ozempic.
In this week’s issue of PEOPLE, the Oscar-winning actress, 76, revealed that she initially lost 80 lbs. through diligent lifestyle adjustments, emphasising, “There’s been a lot of talk that Ozempic did it all, but this took hard work, especially during the pandemic. It’s really difficult to say you’ve had enough.”
Bates, currently starring in CBS’s Matlock reboot, was inspired to improve her health after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2017. “I ate out of fear, and it was an FU to my self-esteem,” she shared. “[Diabetes] runs in my family, and I had seen what my father endured, including a leg amputation. My sister is also dealing with it seriously, and it terrified me straight.”
The first change she made was learning to listen to her body, thanks to advice from her niece: “When we’re full, we experience an involuntary sigh,” she explained, which helped her practise mindful eating. She also cut out late-night eating and improved her diet, replacing “burgers, Cokes, and pizza” with healthier choices. Bates still allows herself an occasional treat, though: “We had Pink’s Hot Dogs on set yesterday. Today, I’m back on track.”
Her next goal is to establish a consistent workout routine now that filming for Matlock has wrapped. “I’m a bit worried since I won’t be on set moving around,” she said. “I have a treadmill at home and might try Pilates, but I prefer no trainer. I like to do this on my own. I don’t want to slip.”
The timing of her weight loss has coincided beautifully with her role on Matlock, she notes: “I can stand, walk, move, and do things I couldn’t before.” A significant benefit has also been the improvement in her lymphedema symptoms, which she developed after a double mastectomy following her 2012 breast cancer diagnosis (she also had ovarian cancer in 2003). “It’s a tremendous relief. I no longer need to wear compression sleeves daily, and it’s thrilling to fit my arms comfortably into a jacket,” she shared.
Bates, who works with the National Commission on Lymphatic Diseases at the NIH, hopes to inspire others with her story. *”That’s what *Misery* did,”* she said, referencing her iconic role. “It gave me a recognisable face and a way to help in the real world.”
Reflecting on this period in her life, Bates, with tears in her eyes, added, “It’s just so exciting and emotional.”
