Overeaters Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women from all walks of life who meet in order to help solve a common problem - compulsive overeating. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively. OA is a non-profit international organization that provides volunteer support groups worldwide. Patterned after the Twelve-Step Alcoholics Anonymous program, the OA recovery program addresses physical, emotional and spiritual recovery aspects of compulsive overeating. Members are encouraged to seek professional help for individual diet/nutrition plans and for any emotional or physical problems. How did Overeaters Anonymous start? In January 1960, three people living in southern California began meeting for the purpose of helping each other with their eating problems. They had tried everything else and failed. The program they followed was patterned after the Alcoholics Anonymous program. From that first meeting, OA has grown until today there are approximately 7,500 meeting groups in over 50 countries throughout the world. How do OA members lose weight and maintain their normal weight? OA is not a diet club, and makes no claims for weight loss. The concept of abstinence is the basis of OA's program of recovery. By admitting inability to control compulsive overeating in the past, and abandoning the idea that all one needs to be able to eat normally is "a little willpower," it becomes possible to abstain from overeating - one day at a time. OA offers members support in dealing with the physical and emotional symptoms of compulsive overeating, and recommends emotional, spiritual and physical recovery changes through the Twelve-Steps. OA members are encouraged to follow a plan of eating. Each OA member should consult qualified professionals for their individual diet/nutrition plan, any medically approved plan of eating is acceptable. Who are O.A. members? OA members are men and women of all ages from all over the world who wish to abstain form compulsive overeating and who wish to carry this message of recovery to those who still suffer. Based on our 1992 Gallup survey of the membership, the average OA member is a 44 year old woman who began eating compulsively at 14. She has been an OA member for over 4 years and has lost over 40 pounds. She states that her emotional and mental health is the aspect of her life that has most improved since joining OA. How is O.A. funded? Overeaters Anonymous has no dues or fees for membership. It is entirely self-supporting through contributions and sale of publications. Most groups "pass the basket" at meetings to cover expenses. OA does not solicit or accept outside contributions. Who runs Overeaters Anonymous? OA has no central government and a minimum of formal organization. At the local, regional, and international levels responsible members serve OA and its fellowship by volunteering to organize and lead meetings, conduct activities and sit on the Board of Trustees. The World Service Office is a service center whose main function is to carry the OA message to the many compulsive overeaters who still suffer. The World Service Office publishes and distributes literature, maintains records on all registered groups, intergroups, regions and national service boards, and issues meeting directories. The World Service Office also acts as a public information clearing house. Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Overeaters Anonymous, Inc.; World Service Office