Ricki Lake ties sexual abuse to weight gain

by Jennifer Jordan (Subscribe to Jennifer Jordan's posts) Nov 28th 2007 9:06AM

Categories: Safety, Celeb Parenting, In The News

I love Ricki Lake. I was never a big fan of her daytime talk show (I never watched any of the others either) but I loved her as an actress and as a person. Ricki stood up for women and self-esteem everywhere, and when she lost more than half her body weight in a bid to get healthy, I was right there with the rest of the country cheering her on.

Now Ricki has come forward about why she thinks she gained all the weight, which at one point toppled at 260 pounds. She says she was sexually abused as a child which may have lead to the excess weight. As with many victims of abuse Ricki didn't want to talk about it or admit it happened.

Ricki lived in silence for "15 or 20 years" before telling her parents what happened. They acted quickly and took Ricki's abuser out of her life. Ricki said food became a comfort for her.

For several years now Ricki has shed the weight and hopefully the sense of shame that accompanies so many victims of abuse. She is a successful actor and mother. Hopefully, now that she has decided to let the world know her pain, she can move on and enjoy being both of those things.

Ricki Lake(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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Comments (75)

Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)

Helen 11-28-2007 @ 3:17PM

I agree with Ethel. I was abused as well, it only happened once but it changed me forever. That isn't the reason I'm fat though. I'm fat because my parents are and I'm a bit lazy. I know when to take responsibility for what I did to myself.

But you're right about not living in silence. Sometimes parents know even though you didn't tell them, and they hope to hell it didn't actually happen. People survive this, but don't buy into the whole, I'm stronger now because of what happened, that's a mental building block. They were strong to begin with. If they weren't, they'd never have gotten over it, and most likely would have committed suicide. So, no, I don't agree that rape or sexual abuse makes people stronger, it just makes already strong people realise that they can metally get over what happened.

Caelligh 11-28-2007 @ 3:19PM

Wow...lots of hostility in this thread. Maybe since none of us know her, we shouldn't be so quick to judge. For anyone who wants to read her comments in context:

"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... 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."

laura 11-28-2007 @ 3:25PM

Why is it when someone cannot relate to another's issues, that person points an accusing finger and wants the hurting individual to stop "making excuses"? HENRY and SUSAN, this question is very much directed at both of you. All types of childhood abuse can lead to many factors that only show up in the obvious, such as eating disorders, promiscuity, and fear of imtimacy, to name a few. How about a little compassion?

Maggy 11-28-2007 @ 3:46PM

Like Ricki and Ethel and several others here, I was abused sexually as a child, and I can tell you from personal experience that it does color your life in ways those of you who have never experienced it can ever understand.

I started putting on weight immediately after the sexual abuse started, and though I tried to lose the weight, every time I would get in shape and some man would pay attention to me, I'd go out and binge and then put the weight back on. The only relationships I was able to sustain after that were ones that didn't involve real intimacy (sex but no love). It took a lot of therapy and praying to get past my desire to hide from male attention and my intimacy issues, and I'm still working on it. (I'm a heterosexual, by the way.)

So, for those of you who've never been through it to say that what happened to us and the results that follow is bull, is a real insult. You have NO idea what you're talking about and should read a few books on the subject before even attempting to speak on the subject.

I say, "HOORAY" for Ricki for being a strong survivor! She is a true inspiration!

JustMyOpinion 11-28-2007 @ 3:48PM

jonniemac - I didn't see anywhere that it was specified that the abuser was man or woman, so how it that male-bashing?

LambLion58 11-28-2007 @ 4:00PM

It is so obvious to me that some people here have never been sexually abused. I had it happen to me only once when I was a child, but it changed my life and perception of myself and sex forever. I chunked out as a kid because of what happened and wound up hating myself and my body. I felt like a freak and like I was on the outside looking in at others lives. Everyone else was normal not me. I eventually lost the weight but gained it back and more when I was in my late 20's because of a date rape situation. I didn't want to be attractive after that anymore.
Finally 20 years later after the date rape I felt I was starting to get emotionally healthy for the first time in my life and went to a physcologist to confirm this to me. She did and told me there was no reason to keep the weight on any longer. So when the first opportunity came to lose I did. I lost 130 lbs and am now working to keep it off. It has been a long road though. All I can say is walk a mile in our shoes before you accuse us or condemn us. I certainly don't wish sexual abuse or rape on anyone, but it is clear to me that some people writing these comments simply do not understand.

Kim 11-28-2007 @ 4:08PM

Blessings to you Ricki. I too was sexually abused as a child. Five years worth. The wall you build and the silence you vow is to keep yourself exsistant. I didn't gain almost 100 lbs until 20 years later as memories and nightmares surfaced, but after much therapy I am certain that the food was a comfort. Not having anyone look at me was comforting. Thank God my husband loves me and hung on throughout the weight gain. I knew that so eating became a safe way to hide from the world. It wasn't until after the birth of my daughter that I began reliving what had happened to me. There was no mother, sisters or others to go to. Mom and sisters were aware of the abuse as it happened. I've learned to no blame them, it was about survival then. It was about mom turning the other cheek or going without food and a place to live. I can forgive because my life is wonderful now and if I hadn't gone through what I had I'd be in a different place. Never to have met my husband and never to have my beautiful children. It took years for me to come to this resultion. It took year of overeating to realize that I am worth so much more. Not my fault, I survived and now I can like myself and take care of me for a while. I am a great Mom and so smart about my kids, they wont travel the road or make the mistakes I did. The journey was worth that.

DEBBIE 11-28-2007 @ 4:22PM

people responding to this article need to remember that not everyone handles and reacts to a situation in the same way. Two people can have the same thing happen to them and have it affect them in totally different ways. One may fall to pieces and take forever to get over it, while the other may find inner strength they never knew they had and rebound in no time at all. So it isn't fair to say or assume that everyone should or is going to handle something the same as another. Just something to think about. We are all unique and individual an deal with things that way.

Yeah, Yeah 11-28-2007 @ 4:26PM

I don't buy it. Just blame it on the twinkies.

Willie 12-17-2007 @ 3:10PM

It's probably due to global warming like everything else that happens !

Davvid Tomaselo 11-28-2007 @ 4:27PM

I love you ricki,always thought you were and still are one of the most pretties women I ever saw.The more you think about that evil person and what he did to you.The more he keeps on winner.Let it out once and for all and live your life clear.You deserve that respeact for yourself and the people who love you like me.Marry me and I will treat you like a princess for the rest of your life.Peace/love Big Dave

someonespecial 11-28-2007 @ 4:29PM

william,
you are an absolute disgrace to society. that kind of comment is just so pathetic that it's obvious to all what kind of childhood issues you've had (or are still having.) now, just go away...

leni shea 11-28-2007 @ 5:08PM

i dont believe your waight gain has anything to do with the episodes in your child hood, ricky lake was fat because she ate to much simple as that,

Grey 11-28-2007 @ 4:53PM

Hmm ... I wish Ricki Lake good luck with her recovery. Too bad that it had been too long for her until her parents found out. If it had been 15 years of abuses, then it must be one of her relatives.
Anyway, she need to lose weight for health reasons. It doesn't have to be a "Hollywood body". Five to ten more pounds over is okay. Nobody's perfect.

Lynn 11-28-2007 @ 4:56PM

I agree with some of the comments that already been made. I was also sexuall abuse but I'm not fat. And yes, some people handle different situation different. And thank the Lord, save me but you have to stop making excuse for your behavior and just say you know what I shouldn't had that second or third slice of cake. Is the world coming to this making excuses if you gained 260lbs, or something entirely different. People need to wake up and think about how innocent people are getting killed over in Iraqi, and not focus on image so much. I pray and hope she find happiness and peace within herself. And let's pray that our men and women come home safe and this war end soon. God Bless.

danny 11-28-2007 @ 5:00PM

Heard she wanted to play defense for the Dallas Cowboys.
Put the taco down, Rikki

Ed Daly 11-28-2007 @ 5:00PM

momof6 11-28-2007 @ 5:05PM

Ricky lost the weight what.....5 years ago at least...and we are still talking about it??? Are we this desperate for news??

rob 11-28-2007 @ 5:17PM

we should leave animals alone and use convicted pedofiles and molestors for experimental testing.

JIM HOSS 11-28-2007 @ 5:43PM

Ricki Lake is a fat loser...... I do not know why anyone would ever think about touching her............like totally gross me out.............

To me Kelly Key is the most beautiful woman in the world