Kathy Bates confirms she used Ozempic to lose 20 pounds — after shedding 80 with diet change

Kathy Bates, pictured here in September, confirmed she lost 20 pounds on Ozempic. Getty Images

Kathy Bates wants to set the record straight regarding her massive weight loss.

The “Misery” star, 76, shared in a new interview that she has lost 80 pounds over the past seven years by changing her diet and lifestyle — and another 20 pounds by using Ozempic.

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

The actress, shown above in 2011, began her weight-loss journey seven years ago. Getty Images Bates, pictured here in 1991, changed her diet after being diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Getty Images

Bates began to overhaul her diet when she was diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2017.

The Oscar winner admitted to the magazine that she “used to eat terribly” — “burgers and Cokes and pizza” — for emotional reasons.

“I ate because I was afraid, and I ate because it was a FU to my self-esteem,” she explained. “[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.”

The “Misery” star, shown above in 1996, lost 80 pounds by overhauling her diet and lifestyle. Getty Images Bates, pictured here in July, has since lost another 20 pounds on Ozempic. Getty Images

One of the first changes Bates made was to listen to her body.

“When we’re full, we experience an involuntary sigh. I just pushed the plate away,” she shared, adding that she also stopped eating after 8 p.m.

The “Fried Green Tomatoes” star’s weight-loss journey has dovetailed nicely with her starring role in the reboot of “Matlock.”

Bates became a star and won an Oscar for her role in “Misery,” seen above. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection She stars in the reboot of “Matlock,” shown here. CBS

“Physically, I’m capable of doing this show,” she shared. “I don’t have to sit down. I can stand up all day long and walk and move and breathe and do so many things that I couldn’t before.”

Bates, who has battled ovarian and breast cancers over the years, has also seen a positive change in her lymphedema symptoms.

The “Dolores Claiborne” actress was diagnosed with the condition, which causes swelling, in 2012.

Bates, seen here in May, has also battled two different cancers. FilmMagic The star, pictured above in 2019, hopes to inspire others and make a difference. Getty Images

“It’s been a tremendous benefit for me,” she revealed. “I’m lucky that I don’t have to wear my compression sleeves every day. It’s such a thrill to be able to put my arm into a jacket and it fits.”

Now, Bates hopes to inspire others.

“That’s what ‘Misery'” did,” she said. “It gave me a [known] face and a way to help in the real world.”