Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

OA is a worldwide community of people recovering from compulsive eating and other difficulties related to food and eating behaviors. In OA, member support one another so that no one has to face these struggles alone.

Anyone who has a desire to stop eating compulsively is welcome to join—no matter your age, weight, eating habits, or background.

Yes. Many people participate in OA while also using other programs or services that support their health and well-being.

Overeaters Anonymous has no opinions on surgical or other medically recommended methods of weight management, and we do not interfere with professional guidance or services.

No, you do not have to believe in God to join OA. OA welcomes atheists, agnostics, and secular-minded people, and our Find a Meeting search tool includes an option to help people find atheist, agnostic, and secular meetings.

In OA, members often use the words God or Higher Power, but each person is free to interpret this in their own way. For some people this is God; for others, it may mean nature, the support of the OA group, or another understanding that makes sense to them.

Many members begin simply by staying open to the idea that help and support may be available in ways they hadn’t considered before, instead of feeling they must manage everything on their own. Over time, each person develops their own understanding of what that means.

One powerful way people decide whether OA might help is by hearing their own experiences reflected in the stories of other OA members. When some else decribes struggles with food that feel familiar, it can be a sign that OA may be worth exploring.

Another option is to take the OA Quiz. This is a confidential quiz for your eyes only. Your answers will never be stored or shared.

You can also review the list below, which reflects the common experiences of OA members. If you relate to several, OA may be worth exploring: 

• Eating when not hungry
• Not eating when the body needs nourishment 
• Going on eating binges for no apparent reason 
• Eating until stuffed or feeling sick 
• Eating sensibly in front of others and then “making up for it” when alone 
• Eating in ways that adversely affect their health or lifestyle 
• Reaching for food during times of emotional intensity, whether positive or negative 
• Exhibiting eating behaviors that make themselves or others unhappy 
• Using laxatives, vomiting, diuretics, excessive exercise, diet pills, shots, or other medical interventions (including surgery) to control weight 
• Fasting or severely restricting food intake to control weight 
• Fantasizing about how much better their life would be at a different size or weight
• Needing to chew or have something in their mouth all times, whether it is food, gum, mints, candies, or beverages 
• Eating food that is burned, frozen, or spoiled; from containers in the grocery store; or out of the garbage 
• Being unable to stop eating certain foods after having the first bite 
• Having lost weight with a diet or “period of control” followed by bouts of uncontrolled eating and/or weight gain 
• Spending too much time thinking about food and weight, arguing with themselves about whether or what to eat, planning the next diet or exercise cure, or counting calories 

Yes. OA offers 5,600 meetings worldwide, including meetings held in person, online through videoconference and messaging platforms, and by phone. You are free to attend any OA meeting, and you will find many that fit your schedule.

In OA, you will find encouragement and support to make consistent, daily efforts to work the OA program, but OA offers many options to fit your lifestyle.

There is no fee to be an OA member or participate in the program. Meetings may collect voluntary contributions to help cover expenses and support OA services.

Many members benefit from buying OA literature, which can be purchased at OA meetings, at the OA bookstore website, and from popular e-book retailers.

No. OA does not prescribe specific diets. Members may share what works for them, but we strongly encourage you to adopt your own plan of eating and to seek help from your sponsor and/or your professional health and wellness provider.

We do encourage each OA member to seek abstinence from any foods, ingredients, and eating habits that are personally problematic. Abstinence in OA means refraining from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors. Members find abstinence by identifying their problem foods and behaviors and then working the Twelve Steps of OA to overcome them.

Compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors refer to any behaviors that one cannot control. These behaviors can look different for everyone:

• overeating
• binge eating
• restricting food
• yo-yo dieting
• obsession with food
• obsession with body image
• other food-related struggles

In OA, the terms “compulsive overeating” and “compulsive eating” are interchangeable and refer to any overwhelming problem with food.

In OA, each member works an individual program centered on OA’s Twelve Steps. Through experience, we have learned that working the Twelve Steps leads to a healthy relationship with food. The changes we experience are physical, emotional, and spiritual in nature and they can last a lifetime.

An important part of OA’s culture is working our program one day at a time. We earnestly do the best we can do today and nothing more. Many of us have been amazed to discover that this patient and forgiving approach leads to positive changes more quickly and more profoundly than we could have imagined.

We also stay connected to each other by reaching out in between meetings. We frequently share our stories about the experience, strength, and hope we have encountered in our recovery journeys in OA.

As we each find recovery, we start participating in a common purpose: to offer hope and support to anyone who is suffering in the ways that we once suffered. This practice helps others and helps us keep our own recovery.

Each meeting can be a little different, but meetings typically start with a welcome. Meeting leaders may ask newcomers to introduce themselves, but there is no pressure for you to speak.

Next, people may take turns reading aloud from our program literature. We often read aloud the Twelve Steps of OA followed by the Twelve Traditions. We read other hopeful passages from OA literature, such as “Our Invitation to You.”

Next, there may be announcements.

After announcements, OA members will take turns sharing what we call “experience, strength, and hope.” These are personal stories or reflections about how the OA program is working in our lives. When someone finishes sharing their story, our practice is to say “thank you for sharing,” and then we move on to the next share. We avoid discussing or asking questions about what someone shares.

During the meeting, we pause to take donations. (We call this our Seventh Tradition contribution.) All contributions are voluntary.

When the meeting ends, it is common for OA members to approach each other for more conversation. We call this “the meeting after the meeting.” If you are a newcomer, an OA member may approach you and ask what you thought of the meeting, offer to answer your questions, and ask if they may have your contact information to reach out to you later in the week. You are always free to say no.

OA meetings are safe, confidential spaces. We practice anonymity, whcih means your identity as an OA member will not be shared outside the meeting.

OA meetings are held in person, online, and by phone.

In OA, you will see and meet a variety of people who share one profound similarity: powerlessness over food.

You will see members with many different body types: severely obese, obese, overweight, at a healthy weight, or underweight.

You will see members in different stages of recovery: some who are still struggling, some who have made significant progress, and some who have been living free from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors for many years.

If you want to find others who share your life experiences, we offer the following options in our Find a meeting search tool in the “Specific Focus” menu:

• 100-pounders (those who need to lose or who have lost 100 pounds (45 kg) or more.
• Anorexia/Bulimia
• Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi (APID)
• Atheist, agnostic, and secular
• Bariatric surgery
• Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)
• Body image
• Health issues
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus additional sexual orientations non specified (LGBTQ+)
• Men
• Neurodivergent/Neurodiverse
• Women
• Young adults (members ages 18–30 or those who joined OA at that age)

Our specific-focus meetings are regular OA meetings and are open to all OA members.

A sponsor is an experienced OA member who guides you through the Twelve Steps and offers personal support.

We believe everyone—from newcomers to longtime OA members—benefits from having a sponsor.

You choose your own sponsor, and you can change sponsors if needed. A common suggestion is to find someone who has the recovery you want and ask them to be your sponsor.

Most OA members find their challenges with food involve more than body weight alone. Even after weight changes, the thoughts, habits, and emotions connected with food may still need attention and support.

In OA members work a Twelve Step program that address the physical, emotioanl, and spiritual aspects of recovery. Continuing to attend meetings and work the program helps members maintain a healthier relationship with food and avoid returning to old patters.

While the idea of staying connected to OA long term may seem surprising at first, many members describe the opposite experience: freedom from constant thoughts about food and a fuller, more balanced life than they imagined possible.

• Joining OA is simple—just attend any OA meeting. Use our Find a Meeting search tool to get started.
• At the meeting, ask for help. Let them know that you are new to OA. You are also welcome to just listen.
• Read Where Do I Start? It’s the free guide for newcomers found on our website.
• Browse the literature we recommend for newcomers. Many titles are available in print and as e-books.
• If English is not your preferred language, use the country flag menu at the top of our website to connect with OA groups who may have literature in your language.
• Listen to our podcasts or read our stories on Lifeline.
• Take the steps that are comfortable for you today. We will be here for you when you are ready to take the next step.