Are you a compulsive eater?
Welcome to Overeaters Anonymous. This series of questions may help you determine if you are a compulsive eater.
- Do you eat when you’re not hungry?
- Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason?
- Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating?
- Do you give too much time and thought to food, weight or body image?
- Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone?
- Do you plan secret binges ahead of time?
- Do you eat sensibly before others and make up for it alone?
- Is your weight or your attempts to control your weight affecting the way you live your life or your health?
- Have you tried to diet for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?
- Do you resent others telling you to use willpower to stop overeating?
- Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet on your own whenever you wish?
- Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than mealtime?
- Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble?
- Have you ever been treated for obesity, anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder or another food-related condition?
- Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy?
- Do you restrict, purge, over-exercise or fast to control your weight?
Have you answered yes to three or more of these questions? If so, it is probable that you have, or are well on your way to having a compulsive eating problem. Some of us overeat, some under-eat, some binge and purge, some over-exercise for weight control. We all have an addictive relationship with food. We have found that the way to arrest this progressive disease is to practice the Twelve-Step recovery program of Overeaters Anonymous.
Overeaters Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors, and to carry this message of recovery to those who still suffer.
Is OA for You?
Only you can answer that question. No one else can make this decision for you. We who are now in OA have found a way of life which enables us to live without the need for excess food, or compulsive food behaviors. We believe that compulsive eating is a progressive illness, one that, like alcoholism and other addictions, can be arrested. Remember, there is no shame in admitting you have a problem; the most important thing is to do something about it.
We encourage you to attend several meetings before deciding if OA is for you. There are meetings specifically for newcomers, but you are welcome at any meeting.