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What is OA?
Overeaters Anonymous
is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and
hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who
wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we
are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor
accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private
organization, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine; we take no
position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from
compulsive overeating and to carry this message of recovery to those who
still suffer.
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Are You a Compulsive Overeater?
This series of
questions may help you determine if you are a compulsive overeater.
- Do you eat when you're
not hungry?
- Do you go on eating
binges for no apparent reason?
- Do you have feelings
of guilt and remorse after overeating?
- Do you give too much
time and thought to food?
- Do you look forward
with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat
alone?
- Do you plan these
secret binges ahead of time?
- Do you eat sensibly
before others and make up for it alone?
- Is your weight
affecting the way you live your life?
- Have you tried to diet
for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?
- Do you resent others
telling you to "use a little willpower" to stop overeating?
- Despite evidence to
the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet "on
your own" whenever you wish?
- Do you crave to eat at
a definite time, day or night, other than mealtime?
- Do you eat to escape
from worries or trouble?
- Have you ever been
treated for obesity or a food-related condition?
- Does your eating
behavior make you or others unhappy?
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Have you answered yes to three or
more of these questions?
If so, it
is probable that you have or are well on your way to having a
compulsive overeating problem. We have found that the way to arrest
this progressive disease is to practice the Twelve-Step recovery
program of Overeaters Anonymous.
Overeaters
Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared
experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive
overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating
compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are
self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting
nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any
public or private organization, political movement, ideology or
religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our
primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive overeating and to
carry this message of recovery to those who still suffer.
Is OA for You?
Only you
can decide that question. No one else can make this decision for
you. We who are now in OA have found a way of life which enables us
to live without the need for excess food. We believe that compulsive
overeating is a progressive illness, one that, like alcoholism and
some other illnesses, can be arrested. Remember, there is no shame
in admitting you have a problem; the most important thing is to do
something about it. |
