Kathy Bates confirms use of Ozempic after losing 100 pounds

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 taking Ozempic.

“There’s a lot of talk that I was only able to do this because of Ozempic,” she told People Wednesday. “But I have to make it clear to the people there that this was hard work for me, especially during the pandemic. It’s very difficult to say you’ve had enough.”

Bates began overhauling 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, cokes and pizza” – for emotional reasons.

“I ate because I was scared, and I ate because it was an FU for my self-esteem,” she explained. “(Diabetes) runs in my family, and I had seen what my father had gone through. He had undergone a leg amputation. One of my sisters takes it very seriously and it terrified me. It immediately scared me.”

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

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

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

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

Bates, who has battled ovarian and breast cancer 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.

“It’s been a huge benefit for me,” she revealed. “I’m fortunate that I don’t have to wear my compression sleeves every day. It’s so exciting to be able to put my arm in a jacket and it fits.”

Now Bates hopes to inspire others.

“That’s what ‘Misery’ did,” she said. “It gave me a (familiar) face and a way to help in the real world.”