Darlene Cates Weight Loss 2025: From 575 pounds to 331 pounds at age 64. Can a woman who once weighed 575 pounds, was bedridden for months, shunned by the public eye.
And rejected by Hollywood make a comeback at age 64? Darlene Cates did it. Her story isn’t just about weight loss.
Darlene Cates played Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio’s obese mother Bonnie in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, who hasn’t left the house in years due to depression following her husband’s suicide.
Personal life
Cates was born on December 13, 1947, in Borger, Texas. Her father was a gas station attendant, and her mother a homemaker. They divorced when Cates was 12. She grew up in Dumas, Texas.
Cates met US Marine Robert Cates when she was 14 and the two married on January 11, 1963 – she was 15 and he was 25.
Cates claimed she had lied to Robert about her age, only revealing she was not 18 the night before their wedding.
They had a daughter, Sherry Ann, and two sons, Mark and Chris. They had four grandchildren and lived in Forney, Texas. In 1992, she received her high school diploma through correspondence courses.
Struggles with Obesity
Cates began comfort eating when Robert was stationed in Vietnam for two 13-month tours.
With a thyroid condition and a slow metabolism, overeating caused him to gain a lot of weighting 1986.
A pelvic infection caused by her excess weight left her bedridden for two years, during which she gained an additional 149 pounds (68 kg), for a total weight of approximately 600 pounds (270 kg).
Cates suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts due to her weight, and lived in seclusion.
After telling his doctor, he was prescribed Prozac, which he praised as having “changed his life.” After completing his diploma in 1992.
Cates ends his five-year period of solitary confinement by accepting an invitation to appear on the Sally Show – an offer he received through his support group.
In 2012, Cates had lost 240 pounds (110 kg), having been hospitalized for nearly a year in 2010 for health problems, and had expressed a desire to resume his acting career.
Darlene Cates Weight Loss Journey
1. Focus on a balanced diet
The foundation of any successful weight loss plan is a healthy, balanced diet. This doesn’t mean starving yourself or going on extreme fad diets, but instead prioritizing nutritious foods.
- Aim for High-protein meals to keep you full longer.
- Eat plenty of vegetables for fiber and vitamins.
- Eat whole grains instead of refined carbs.
- Avoid sugary snacks and beverages.
2. Get Active with Exercise You Enjoy
Exercise is an important part of any weight loss plan. The main thing is to find activities that you enjoy so you stick to them. For quick results, try a combination of some of these:
- Cardio exercises like running, cycling, or swimming.
- Strength training to build muscle and burn calories even while you’re resting.
- Group classes or sports to make fitness fun.
3. Stay Consistent with a Routine
Only consistent effort leads to quick results. Create a routine that includes meal preparation, a regular workout schedule, and mindful habits. Keeping a food diary or tracking your workouts can also help you stay on track.
4. Prioritize Mental Health
Weight loss isn’t just a physical journey—it’s a mental one, too. Managing stress, practicing self-care, and cultivating a positive mindset can prevent emotional eating and burnout.
5. Set Realistic Goals
Although quick results are possible, it’s important to set realistic and sustainable goals. Aim to lose 1-2 pounds per week through a combination of diet and exercise. Rapid weight loss often leads to weight gain again, so focus on making lifestyle changes that you can maintain long-term.
Something’s about Darlene cates:
In a 2004 PEOPLE story, Cates revealed that he weighed 410 pounds when he had his stomach stapled in 1981.
Though the surgery caused him to lose 100 pounds, the weight returned, bringing his weight to 550 pounds.
The thing that made you fat in the first place? That’s not removed during surgery,” he explained.
The pressure that made you seek solace in food is still there when you get home from the hospital.
Cates appeared in several TV shows, including Picket Fences in 1994 and Touched by an Angel in 1996.
She also had a small role in the 2001 film Wolf Girl. In 2012, Cates told the Dallas Morning News that she had lost 250 pounds – from 575 pounds to 331 pounds – and hoped to return to acting.
However, she was confined to her home again after several health scares forced her into a hospital stay for nearly a year.
However, she was ready to make a comeback and landed a role in the 2014 short film Mother.
The actress told the newspaper that she hoped to play the kind of roles she is best remembered for today.
I can play mothers very well, Cates said. I don’t have to dig too deep to find the mother.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape Star Talks About 240-pound Weight Loss?
Darlene Cates played Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio’s mother in the 1993 film “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” And while her role is best remembered for her size, Cates says she has now lost 240 pounds.
In a video interview with the Dallas Morning News, Cates said she has dropped from 575 pounds to 331 pounds and wants to get back to acting.
I’m not against doing science fiction or comedy, but there has to be respect in it,” says Cates.
“I refuse to be the joke, the fat woman in any movie. I’ve turned down roles.” And while she wants to get back to business, there are still some things standing in her way.
Cates told the Dallas Morning News that she is still unable to walk after “four surgeries and three near-death experiences which left her hospitalized from December 2010 to November 2011.
Her goal: to be in a wheelchair for her grandson’s Confirmation this October.
