Kathy Bates' 7st weight loss after years of eating 'burgers, Cokes and pizza'

Kathy Bates has candidly discussed her remarkable seven-stone weight loss journey, which began after years of unhealthy eating habits. The 76-year-old actress, known for her roles in Stephen King's Misery and the crime series Matlock, embarked on her health transformation in 2017 following a diagnosis of type two diabetes. This common condition, often linked to unhealthy dietary choices , occurs when blood sugar levels become dangerously high, potentially leading to an increased risk of heart disease and complications affecting the eyes, feet and nerves.

"I used to eat terribly: burgers and Cokes and pizza," she confessed in a recent interview with People magazine. "[Diabetes] runs in my family, and I'd seen what my father had gone through. He had had a leg amputation.



" Kathy also revealed that one of her sisters is battling diabetes, a situation that left her feeling 'terrified'. As a result, she decided to overhaul her lifestyle. While Kathy credits 20 pounds of her weight loss to Ozempic - a treatment for type two diabetes not prescribed for this purpose in the UK - she also adopted several other healthy habits into her daily routine.

The Mirror asked Dr Gareth Nye, a Senior Lecturer at Chester Medical School ( @dr.gareth.nye ), about his thoughts on three of these steps and how others can use them in day-to-day life.

Kathy has embraced a healthier lifestyle, choosing nutritious foods and avoiding eating after 8pm—a practice some liken to intermittent fasting. Dr Nye highlighted the potential benefits of this approach for those battling obesity in an interview with the Mirror. However, these strategies might not work for everyone.

"There are theories to suggest that eating later at night or closer to sleep time can lead to weight gain," he told the Mirror. "It's suggested that food being broken down can alter your hormonal cycles (circadian rhythms) which can alter your metabolic processing. Research also seems to indicate that your sensitivity to insulin changes through the night and this can indirectly lead to fat deposition instead of cells using it for energy.

"...

[Importantly,] fasting alone is not effective in people who don’t also lead an active lifestyle, although this doesn’t need to be hitting the gym every day, just meeting guidance on daily steps or active time is sufficient to maximise the fasting. "Ultimately this doesn’t change the psychological approach to diet which is why relapse rates are high and the recommendation will always be to slowly change diet lifestyle and exercise levels to bring about whole body changes." Kathy maintains a balanced approach to indulgence, recently sharing that she thoroughly enjoyed a hot dog on the Paramount set.

Dr Nye backs this concept of moderation, stating that while 'cheat days' and the odd takeaway are permissible as a form of reward, the ultimate control comes down to 'willpower'. "In order to lose fat weight, you need to get your body breaking it down to use for energy," he explained. "Your body will do that if it has lower levels of sugars in the diet.

By reducing the level of sugar or fats in the diet, the body will have to use reserves to keep your body going. "Cheat days can be a good way to compensate but too often they turn into a return to poor dietary habits. Patients should think of the numbers game, if they’ve been more active in a day then they can afford a treat for example.

"Ultimately though, the path to sustained weight loss is through cutting out treats and cheats." Adding exercise is crucial as well, as the 76-year-old celebrity comments on her own fitness routine. She enjoys using a treadmill and expresses an interest in trying Pilates.

Her regular movement helps her endure long days on the Matlock set without succumbing to fatigue. Echoing the importance of physical activity, Dr Nye advises that extensive gym sessions aren't always necessary; even routine walks can substantially aid weight loss. He explained: "Walking is a very effective way of losing weight as is jogging or swimming.

If someone is trying to lose weight, it’s a good idea to track their walking activities to see how many calories they burn on a normal day. If your calorie intake far exceeds the calories burnt, you may want to look at ways to increase your walking time per day.".