Overeaters Anonymous

Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is a twelve-step program founded by Rozanne S.[1] Its first meeting was held in Hollywood, California, USA on January 19, 1960, after Rozanne attended a Gamblers Anonymous meeting and realized that the Twelve Steps could potentially help her with her own addictive behaviors relating to food.[1] OA has since grown, with groups in over 75 countries meeting in person, over the phone, and through the internet.[1] OA is for people with problems related to food including, but not limited to, compulsive overeaters, those with binge eating disorder, bulimics and anorexics. Anyone with a problematic relationship with food is welcomed; OA's Third Tradition states that the only requirement for memberships is a desire to stop eating compulsively.[2]

OA's headquarters, or World Service Office, is located in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.[3][4] Overeaters Anonymous estimates its membership at over 60,000 people in about 6,500 groups meeting in over 75 countries.[5] OA has developed its own literature specifically for those who eat compulsively but also uses the Alcoholics Anonymous books Alcoholics Anonymous[6] and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.[7] The First Step of OA begins with the admission of powerlessness over food; the next eleven steps are intended to bring members "physical, emotional, and spiritual healing."[2]

  1. ^ a b c "About Us". Overeaters Anonymous. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  2. ^ a b The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous. Overeaters Anonymous. 1990. ISBN 0-9609898-6-2. OCLC 30004811.
  3. ^ Thomas, Paul R. (1995). Weighing the Options: Criteria for Evaluating Weight-management Programs. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. ISBN 0-309-05131-2. OCLC 31740377.
  4. ^ Kriz, Kerri-Lynn Murphy (2002). The Efficacy of Overeaters Anonymous in Fostering Abstinence in Binge-Eating Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa (PhD in Counselor Education thesis). Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. OCLC 1391192810.
  5. ^ "About OA". Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. Archived from the original on 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  6. ^ Alcoholics Anonymous (1976). Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. ISBN 0-916856-59-3. OCLC 32014950.
  7. ^ Alcoholics Anonymous (2002). Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Hazelden. ISBN 0-916856-01-1. OCLC 13572433.