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Kathy Bates has successfully shed over 100 pounds and is not shy about crediting Ozempic for part of her impressive transformation. In an October 2024 interview with People, Bates acknowledged, “There’s been a lot of talk that I just was able to do this because of Ozempic.” She emphasized the effort involved, stating, “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.” Despite her honesty, the transparency has sparked further criticism, with some social media users speculating that Bates has developed what’s being called “Ozempic face.”
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The term “Ozempic face” is indeed recognized and explained by the Cleveland Clinic, where endocrinologist Dr. Vinni Makin describes it as the facial changes from rapid weight loss. Makin elaborates, “It’s characterized by gauntness, sunken cheeks, new wrinkles, and loose skin on the face and neck.”
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Comparing photos of Bates, it’s noticeable that her face appears less full than before. As fuller facial features are typically associated with youthfulness, some online commentators suggest her weight loss has aged her. However, considering Bates is in her late 70s and appears younger than her years, she seems to be thriving. Moreover, Bates focuses on the health benefits accompanying her transformation.
While promoting her role in the 2024 “Matlock” revival, Bates shared that her weight loss has significantly boosted her confidence. During an appearance on “CBS Mornings” (CBS News), she expressed, “I just feel like a different woman, I really do.” Bates added, “I look in the mirror and I go ‘oh my gosh’ or I go into my costume fittings and I’m wearing a size 10… it’s just so different from being a 3x… ” Her new physique has also played a role in her professional life, with Bates calling it a miraculous gift that coincided with her new job opportunity.
Notably, Bates is candid about her use of Ozempic and dismisses criticism. In a September 2025 conversation with Variety, she said, “People say, ‘Well, it was the Ozempic.’ F**k you, it was the Ozempic! It took me years to do this.” A family history of diabetes, shared by her father, grandmother, and sister, prompted Bates to prioritize her health. She detailed, “I figured out what to do to slowly, over years, to lose the weight,” adding that Ozempic helped her shed the final 15 to 20 pounds and maintain the weight loss.
Kathy Bates is proud of her weight loss
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When discussing her starring role in the 2024 “Matlock” revival, Kathy Bates admitted that her slimmer waistline had boosted her self esteem. “I just feel like a different woman, I really do,” she said during “CBS Mornings” (via CBS News). “I look in the mirror and I go ‘oh my gosh’ or I go into my costume fittings and I’m wearing a size 10 and it’s just so different from being a 3x and being able to walk and move and pick things off the rack … ” Bates also felt her weight loss ushered in her new job. “How these two things coincided in my life, being really healthy and then suddenly being given this gift, just every day feels like a miracle,” she added.
By the way, she really doesn’t like people criticizing her for using Ozempic to help shed the pounds. “People say, ‘Well, it was the Ozempic.’ F**k you, it was the Ozempic! It took me years to do this,” she shared with Variety in September 2025. Unfortunately, getting diagnosed with diabetes — like her father, his mother, and her sister — pushed her to focus on her health. “I figured out what to do to slowly, over years, to lose the weight,” she explained, adding, “And then when Ozempic came along, I was able to lose the last 15 to 20 pounds and keep it off.”
So while Bates may look different since starting Ozempic, she’s focused on more important things.