Struggling with overeating can feel overwhelming, but finding local Overeating Anonymous support groups can be a pivotal step towards regaining control and embracing a healthier lifestyle.

These groups offer a nurturing environment where individuals can share experiences, gain insights, and find encouragement on their journey to wellness.

In addition to the valuable support from these meetings, the Eating Enlightenment Food Journal App is a powerful tool for managing cravings, emotional eating, and binges.

The app complements the guidance from support groups by tracking your eating patterns and emotions. It empowers you to make mindful choices and promote lasting change.

What Is An Overeaters Anonymous Meeting Like?

Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is based on the 12-step program called Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

OA meetings are like AA meetings, so when you go to an OA meeting, you can expect the following:

• To be welcomed and introduced by a chairperson who says, “We welcome everyone who feels they have a problem with food.”
• An appropriate opening statement about membership would be, “The only requirement for membership is that you are overeating and wish to stop. “
• Readings from the OA text or AA text (you can read ahead if it’s your first time)
• Someone shares their experience with overeating. They will share what the steps have meant to them and answer any questions about the 12 recovery steps.
• The speaker may also talk about working with food plans or tools like planners.
• Open group discussion near the end
• Some closing and reminders about confidentiality

You can read my article “Overeaters Anonymous: How Meetings Work.”

How To Find Overeating Anonymous Meetings Near You

Finding an OA meeting near you is pretty simple. Here are some steps to get started:

• You can search for a meeting by zip code or city on the Overeaters Anonymous website.  
• If you’re unsure where to start and want support from someone, try calling The Hotline. 800-255-0606 (M-F: 11 am – 12 pm PST)
• You can also find meetings by searching “Overeaters Anonymous Meetings Near Me.”

Here’s my suggestion:

Go to Google and type “Overeating Anonymous Groups in (Your Location).”

For example, I live in the South Bay Area, California, so I went to Google and typed in “Overeating Anonymous Groups in South Bay.”

If you live in St. Louis, you will type “Overeating Anonymous Groups in St. Louis.”

Here is what Google provided me from my search query:

As you can see, I got a precise result for Overeating Anonymous meetings in the South Bay.

I highly suggest you use this method to find resources near you!

U.S. Overeaters Anonymous (OA) Locations For In-Person Meetings

Most OA meeting locations will be available on the website you are perusing.

(I can only speak for the United States here, and I am not sure where OA can be found if you are reading this from outside the U.S.)

Some groups may list their meeting locations online only by phone number or text message. 

If this information is not listed for your group, I would contact the group leader for more information.

You can find contact information on most websites under topics on the page, such as “Meetings.”

Or, you can “Contact Us” at oa-usa.org (or other sites), where they provide email addresses and phone numbers you can use to get in touch with someone.

OA Meetings Using Zoom

With the pandemic and the anonymous nature of OA, more and more meetings have been moving online.

Here are some steps you can use to find OA Meetings using Zoom (or other online ways to meet):

• Use Google or another search engine and type in “+OA meeting +city name” (e.g., for a Boston OA Meeting)
• You can check the list of monthly meetings at overeatersanonymous.org. Click on your city, then visit the “Monthly Meetings Listing.”
• You can find Zoom’s phone number on its website. Call it to find out if they have any current meetings near you.
• Usually, the email address is also listed, so feel free to contact someone there, too!
• You can also search the top Google search results for more info.

And yes! The same basic steps work to find both in-person and online OA meetings!

Does Overeaters Anonymous Work?

As you peruse the internet for OA meetings near you, you’ll likely wonder if OA even works.

You might be unsure about trying an OA group. Serious doubts about OA’s ability to resolve your eating and food behaviors may arise before your first group meeting.

Well, with the right mindset and a little bit of dedication, OA will help you.

Don’t pressure yourself to attend a group if you are too nervous.

It’s vital to find support in order to recover from entrenched food behaviors, but you can’t force yourself to go.

Take It Slow

You can’t wait to go to a meeting for a while and familiarize yourself with the OA philosophies. Then, when you do go, you’ll be more comfortable.

For example, try reading “The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous.“

After you feel more in alignment with the OA principles regarding food, contact someone from OA and have a conversation!

You can also make a list of potential OA groups near you that you could attend someday. Remember their slogan, too—”Anyone who struggles with food behaviors we welcome!“

You are WELCOME at Overeating Anonymous Meetings. Internalize this!

Once you overcome your fears about going to an OA meeting, I am sure you’ll find that Overeaters Anonymous meetings work (to some degree!).

I have no doubt that you will enjoy OA no matter your situation.

For starters, if you can find people who support you, you will automatically feel better.

However, will OA solve all your problems? I can’t say ‘yes’ to that.

Final Thoughts

When you’re struggling with overeating, it can be hard to find the help and support that you need.

Attending one of the Overeating Anonymous meetings can be a significant step if you want to stop eating compulsively.

We hope these resources give you insight into whether the OA approach suits your recovery.