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About
OA
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In
OA members use the 12 Steps,
12 Traditions, 12
Concepts and 8 Tools of Recovery
as tools to help us with our struggle for recovery from the disease
of compulsive eating.
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What
is OA?
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Overeaters
Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women from all walks of life
who meet in order to
help solve a common problem - compulsive overeating. The only requirement
for membership is a
desire to stop eating compulsively. OA is a non-profit international
organization that provides
volunteer support groups worldwide. Patterned after the Twelve-Step
Alcoholics Anonymous
program, the OA recovery program addresses physical, emotional and
spiritual recovery aspects of
compulsive overeating. Members are encouraged to seek professional
help for individual
diet/nutrition plans and for any emotional or physical problems.
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How
did OA start?
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In
January 1960, three people living in southern California began meeting
for the purpose of helping
each other with their eating problems. They had tried everything
else and failed. The program they
followed was patterned after the Alcoholics Anonymous program. From
that first meeting, OA has
grown until today there are approximately 7,500 meeting groups in
over 50 countries throughout the
world. |
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How
is OA funded?
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Overeaters Anonymous
has no dues or fees for membership. It is entirely self-supporting
through
contributions and sale of publications. Most groups "pass the
basket" at meetings to cover expenses.
OA does not solicit or accept outside contributions. |
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How
do OA members lose weight and maintain their normal weight?
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OA is not a diet
club, and makes no claims for weight loss. The concept of abstinence
is the basis of
OA's program of recovery. By admitting inability to control compulsive
overeating in the past, and
abandoning the idea that all one needs to be able to eat normally
is "a little willpower," it becomes
possible to abstain from overeating - one day at a time. OA offers
members support in dealing with
the physical and emotional symptoms of compulsive overeating, and
recommends emotional, spiritual
and physical recovery changes through the Twelve-Steps. OA members
are encouraged to follow a
plan of eating. Each OA member should consult qualified professionals
for their individual
diet/nutrition plan, any medically approved plan of eating is acceptable. |
