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. The OA Programme is based on the twelve step recovery programme of Alcoholics Anonymous. In OA we admit that we are powerless over food and cannot manage our eating behaviours alone. In OA we find others who can help us to find a saner and more beneficial way to deal with our eating problems and our living problems.

Is OA For Me?

Whether an individual belongs in Overeaters Anonymous is a decision for that individual alone. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively. This may include compulsive overeating, under eating, dieting, starving, over exercising, vomiting, laxative abuse or any other of a number of symptoms related to eating and measures aimed at weight management. Whatever your problem with food, you are welcome in OA. The terms compulsive eater and compulsive overeater are used interchangeably throughout our literature.

How much does it cost?

There is no 'charge' for attending an OA meeting. However, the meetings do have to pay rent to the venue in which they meet and pay for other expenses such as literature, tea, coffee and supporting the various service boards and committees, which help OA to function and reach new members.

Many meetings therefore have a suggested donation, which roughly covers the running expenses of the meeting. This amount is not obligatory; it is a voluntary contribution only and members are encouraged to give what they can to help the meeting function. We call this the '7th Tradition'

How does it work?

We in OA believe we have a threefold illness—physical, emotional and spiritual. Tens of thousands have found that OA’s Twelve-Step program effects recovery on all three levels.

The Twelve Steps embody a set of principles which, when followed, promote inner change. Sponsors help us understand and apply these principles. As old attitudes are discarded, we often find there is no longer a need for excess food. Those of us who choose to recover one day at a time practice the Twelve Steps. In so doing, we achieve a new way of life and lasting freedom from our food obsession.

Anonymity allows the Fellowship to govern itself through principles rather than personalities. Social and economic status have no relevance in OA; we are all compulsive eaters. Anonymity gives assurance that OA membership will not be disclosed.

Is it a religious organisation?

OA is not a religious society, since it does not require any religious belief as a condition of membership. OA has among its membership people of many religious faiths as well as atheists and agnostics.

OA does not require that you believe in God. Although the word God may be mentioned in the meetings, we refer to a 'God', as we understand him or her which each member is free to define for themselves. The term 'Higher Power' is also used, which is a power greater than our self. This may be the OA groups itself, or any particular personal manifestation of a higher power that the individual may define for themself.

Many individuals who come to OA have reservations about accepting any concept of a power greater than themselves. OA experience has shown that those who keep an open mind on this subject and continue coming to OA meetings will not find it too difficult to work out their own solution to this very personal matter.

Still not convinced OA is for you?

OA members experience some or many different patterns of food behaviours, such as:

obsession with body weight, size and shape
eating binges or grazing
preoccupation with reducing diets
starving
laxative or diuretic abuse
excessive exercise
inducing vomiting after eating
use of diet pills 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

Take the OA Quiz to help decide if OA is for you

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 nine tools of Overeaters Anonymous.

Service in Overeaters Anonymous

Group Members

We encourage you to attend at least six different meetings to see if OA is for you. This helps you to make a group your 'home' and become a group member where you can assist in helping your meeting to run, such as setting out chairs, making tea to chairing meetings and making decisions about the group.

Service Positions

There are many voluntary service positions at group level that are crucial to keep groups open and healthy. Chairperson, treasurer and group representatives are just some of the positions available.

Alba Intergroup

This is our regional service board who ensure the unity and diversity of OA groups across Scotland. Alba Intergroup work with OAGB to ensure the strength of the fellowship across the UK, by representing Scotland within national conversions.