Kathy Bates has fired back at critics claiming her weight loss was all down to Ozempic

Kathy Bates has fired back at critics claiming her weight loss was all down to Ozempic.

The 77-year-old actress - who has lost around 100lbs since being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2017 - insisted while she eventually turned to the weight loss drug, she put in years of effort to get to where she wants to be.

She told Variety: “People say, 'Well, it was the Ozempic.’ F*** you, it was the Ozempic! It took me years to do this.

"I got this diagnosis about diabetes — my father died of it; his mother died of it; one of my sisters is in peril.

"When they said ’diabetes,’ I figured out what to do to slowly, over years, to lose the weight.

"And then when Ozempic came along, I was able to lose the last 15 to 20 pounds and keep it off."

The Matlock star - who is healthy after battling ovarian cancer in 2003 and breast cancer in 2012 - explained that she "finally" feels like herself.

She added: “I finally feel like I’m who I am. I’ve fought my way through the rapids. I feel this is the best time of my life. I’m glad I stuck around for it!”