London, March 19 (IANS) Pop star Janet Jackson's struggle with her much-talked about weight problems began at the age of 10 when TV producers asked her to lose weight for a role, she revealed.

The former child star established herself as an actress on family variety show 'The Jacksons' in 1976, before finding superstardom as a singer and went on to land a role in US sitcom 'Good Times'. She believes her experience on the 1970s series sparked her ongoing battle with the bulge, reports starpulse.com.

'When I was younger on 'Good Times', I was asked to lose weight. I wasn't a heavy kid on the show but I was 10 years old and developing very quickly so they would put gauze around my chest to make me smaller, and I think that has an effect on you as a child as if who you are isn't good enough,' she said.

The youngest of the Jackson clan has famously struggled with weight problems throughout her career and has previously admitted to being an 'emotional eater'.