Ricki Lake has battled weight problems for years.

Now, in an interview with Access Hollywood, the actress and former talk show host reveals a possible reason why: "I was a victim of childhood sexual abuse and I think it contributed. Who knows for sure?"

"I've done many years in therapy and worked on all my issues. I didn't talk about it for, like, 15 or 20 years; I didn't admit that it had happened to me because I wanted to kind of bury things. It, in some way, made me who I am today."

You've gotta admire Lake for speaking out on such a difficult issue.

"I don't want to be a poster child for this at all but it's very weird thing for children when they're violated in that way. Food became a comfort to me; it was my kind of security blanket."

Ricki Lake hopes to help other women in her situation.