Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. How does Overeaters Anonymous work?

Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. Patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous, OA offers a 12-step program of recovery from compulsive eating. Everyone who has a desire to stop eating compulsively is welcome, including young people and teens.

OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Members attend meetings and work the 12 steps to achieve abstinence and freedom from compulsive eating. We encourage you to check out the OA website at www.oa.org for more information and to attend at least 6 different meetings to see if OA is for you. You can also email the Los Angeles Intergroup Young People's Chair at yp@oalaig.org for more information.

2. Does it cost anything to be a member of OA?

Nope. Overeaters Anonymous has no dues or fees for membership. It is entirely self-supporting through literature sales and member contributions. Most groups "pass the basket" at meetings to cover expenses, but giving is strictly voluntary. OA does not solicit or accept outside contributions.

3. Do I have to believe in God in order to join OA?

No. OA is not a religious program. Anyone who wants to stop eating compulsively is welcome; there are no other requirements for membership. OA has among its members people of many faiths, as well as atheists and agnostics.

OA is, however, a spiritual program. In OA, we are encouraged to define and relate to a higher power as we understand it. Many people who come to OA have reservations about accepting any concept of a power greater than themselves. Our experience in OA has shown that it is possible for anyone to recover from compulsive eating, so long as they stay open on the subject and honest with themselves.

4. What does abstinence mean?

OA defines abstinence as the action of refraining from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors. Most, but not all, members abstain from specific foods or behaviors that cause them trouble, such as binging, purging, or eating between meals. Abstinence is as varied as our members, and each of us is free to define our abstinence for ourselves. It is suggested that newcomers work with a sponsor to define their abstinence.

5. Can I bring my friends to meetings?

Yes. Your friends are welcome to join you at an OA meeting, but keep in mind that each meeting has its own guidelines for who can attend. There are two different kinds of meetings: open and closed. If your friends or loved ones want to attend a meeting with you, but they do not have a problem with compulsive eating, they are welcome at any OPEN meeting. CLOSED meetings are open to only those who have a desire to stop eating compulsively, or anyone who thinks they may have a problem with compulsive overeating. Please check the Los Angeles Intergroup meeting list to see if the meeting you want to attend is open or closed at www.oalaig.org/html/meeting_schedule.php.

6. Can I still come to Overeaters Anonymous if I am anorexic/bulimic?

Yes! Anyone who has a desire to stop eating compulsively is welcome to attend OA meetings.
In Overeaters Anonymous, you'll find members who are extremely overweight, even morbidly obese; moderately overweight; average weight; underweight; still maintaining periodic control over their eating behavior; or totally unable to control their compulsive eating.
OA members experience many different patterns of food behaviors. These "symptoms" are as varied as our membership. Among them are:

  • obsession with body weight, size and shape
  • binge eating or grazing
  • preoccupation with diets
  • starving
  • laxative or diuretic abuse
  • excessive exercise
  • inducing vomiting after eating (purging)
  • 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

 

Our symptoms may vary, but we share a common bond: we are powerless over food and our lives are unmanageable. This common problem has led those in OA to seek and find a common solution in the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions, and eight tools of Overeaters Anonymous.

7. How can I meet other young people in OA?

One easy way to meet other young people in OA is by going to the young person's meeting on Saturday nights from 6:30-7:45 at the Grove. Click here for more information about that meeting. Young people also attend many other meetings throughout the Los Angeles Intergroup.

You may also want to consider joining the Young People's Committee to give service and help reach out to other young people inside and outside of OA. The Young People's Committee meets on the LAST SUNDAY of every month at 9am at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on 3rd St. and La Cienega in Los Angeles. There are no abstinence or age requirements for members.

Contact the Los Angeles Intergroup's Young People Chair for more information at yp@oalaig.org or (847) 404-7125.

8. Will OA help me to lose weight?

The focus of OA is not weight loss, but many abstaining members have been able to reach and maintain a healthy body weight through working the 12 steps. OA is first and foremost a spiritual program. The concept of abstinence is the basis of OA's program of recovery.

While a diet can help us lose weight, it often intensifies the compulsion to overeat. The solution offered by OA does not include diet tips. We don't furnish diets, counseling services, hospitalization or treatment; nor does OA participate in or conduct research and training in the field of eating disorders. For weight loss, any medically approved eating plan is acceptable.
OA members interested in learning about nutrition or who seek professional advice are encouraged to consult qualified professionals. We may freely use such help, with the assurance that OA supports each of us in our efforts to recover.

9. What if I still have more questions?

Feel free to check out the rest of our website and www.oa.org for more information. In particular, you might find this longer list of Frequently Asked Questions to be helpful.

If you still have questions or just want to talk to someone, please contact the Los Angeles Intergroup Young People's Chair by email at yp@oalaig.org or by phone at (847) 404-7125. We would love to hear from you and wish you all the best on your journey of recovery.