Overeater's Anonymous (OA) Review

 

Overeaters Anonymous is a program founded on the tenets and traditions of "Twelve Step" recovery programs like Alcholics Anonymous. OA asserts that it is not just about weight gain and loss - but that it is a recovery program for those with eating disorders where they can work on their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. The seed for OA was planted when its cofounder attended a Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meeting with a compulsive gambling friend in 1958. Listening to GA members share their stories of compulsive gambling, the woman recognized her story: compulsive eating. By 1960 she'd found enough others in common to organize a group, and OA was born.

Overeaters Anonymous lists the characteristics of its membership in its literature. They include:

• obsession with body weight, size and shape
  
• eating binges or grazing
  
• preoccupation with reducing diets
  
• starving
  
• laxative or diuretic abuse
  
• excessive exercise
  
• inducing vomiting after eating
  
• chewing and spitting out food
  
• use of diet pills, shots and other medical interventions to control weight
  
• inability to stop eating certain foods after taking the first bite
  
• fantasies about food
  
• vulnerability to quick-weight-loss schemes
  
• constant preoccupation with food
  
• using food as a reward or comfort
  

Membership varies from the overweight, the obese, the average weight and the underweight. The mission of Overeaters Anonymous is to provide a support network for those for whom food issues make their lives miserable and/or unmanageable. It is strictly a social support group. They do not offer or provide access to diets, counseling services, hospitalization or treatment. Nor do they participate in or conduct research on the study of eating disorders.

OA is not a religious organization. Membership is anonymous, and there about 54,000 members worldwide. There are no dues or fees for members - OA is self-funded through member contributions. Approximately 6,500 OA groups meet weekly in over 75 countries. If you think you need help this is a superb (and safe) place to find it.