Welcome!!!
Are You new to Overeaters Anonymous?
If so, check out the “OA 15 Questions” for a look at your relationship with food and your body.
Reflecting on these questions is a gentle way to deciding if OA might be right for you.
If you have answered “yes”
and can relate to some of the statements here, we need to tell you that many of us have encountered these situations and had many of these experiences. You are not alone. You’ve come to the right place to find the relief and the recovery that you have been seeking
What OA is
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.
Overeaters Anonymous is a simple program that works.
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 behaviours and to carry the message of recovery through the Twelve Steps of OA to those who still suffer.
We in OA are a community of diverse people who support one another in recovering from compulsive eating. No matter what your experience with food or eating behaviours may be, you are welcome here. Our Twelve Step program offers a path of recovery that we practice together, one day at a time.
Do I belong in OA?
Our symptoms may vary, but we share a common bond: we are powerless over food, and our lives have become unmanageable. This common problem has led those in OA to seek and find a common solution and recovery in the Twelve Steps with the assistance of the Twelve Traditions of OA and our nine Tools.
With the help of this program, we have found a new way of living — one that is happy, fulfilling, healthy and free from compulsive eating and compulsive eating behaviours
How does OA work?
Many OA members understand compulsive eating as having physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Through experience, we have found that working OA’s Twelve Steps can support recovery in all three areas.
The Twelve Steps provide a set of actions that help members make meaningful changes in their lives. As we work the Steps, we begin to let go of old attitudes and behaviours and develop a healthier relationship with food. Many members find that the obsessive thoughts and behaviours around food begin to lessen, leading to lasting freedom from food obsession.
Members usually work the Steps with the support of a sponsor—an OA member who shares their experience and offers guidance through the process
What is my next step?
A good next step is to attend an OA meeting. Our Intergroup has some In-person (face to face) meetings. Also we have many online meetings that are open for you to attend from anywhere.
Each meeting has its own format and atmosphere. Many people find it helpful to try several different meetings to see which ones feel most comfortable.
At meetings, members share their experience, strength, and hope as they work the OA program. Listening to others can help you learn more about recovery and decide whether OA might be right for you.
Through attending meetings, working the Twelve Steps, and using the OA Tools, members find lasting freedom from food obsession and develop good health and a healthier relationship with food.
What resources are available to me?
OA offers a wide range of literature and resources to support recovery. Books, pamphlets, and other materials share the experience, strength, and hope of OA members and explain how the program works.
Many documents are available to download for free on the website. Additional books and literature can be purchased through the OA bookstore