Overeaters Anonymous

by Overeaters Anonymous

From the Foreword of this 204 page book written by Theodore Rubin, "I have had both a personal and professional interest in obesity for a great many years. The fact is I've been an overeater all of my life and a fat man most of my life. I did not understand the destructive aspects of overeating, however, until I began to practice psychiatry. Eventually it became apparent to me that overeating is an obsessive, compulsive addiction of a highly complex nature. I became aware that food can be more addictive than tobacco, drugs, alcohol or gambling, and at least as destructive. Those who suffer from the problem and those who seriously engage in working in the area also know how malignant the condition is. This destructive aspect occurs relative to the victim's physical health, emotional well-being, social life, professional life, sex life, and economic life. We also know, unfortunately, how limited all treatment modalities have been to date, in effecting sustained relief, let alone 'cures'. Overeaters Anonymous is not a business. [It] represents one of our country's major and perhaps largest efforts at self-help. OA enjoys a reputation for significant success in a file strewn with failure. OA's success goes beyond weight reduction and control, though this alone is an achievement of great magnitude. OA helps contribute a greater sense of self and self-esteem through its extraordinary implementation of camaraderie and caring for one's fellows and one's self. It functions as a giant contributor to awakening and adding to members' sense of their own humanity. This is crucial in battling malignant addiction, or, for that matter, any illness of mind and body; they really are one. This book describes the OA experience as told by various members through their own moving and educational stories. They are full of struggles and hope. Most important, they tell of enhanced compassion for self, for others, and for the state of being human."

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Health

204 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1980

Reviews

[Chris Gager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this as a gift at a meeting the other day. A bunch of new stories. Should be great! I am one, by the way...

Moving along through the stories. One of them is different for sure as it involves a bulimic/purger/ compulsive binger/anorexic young woman whose food plan is just a bit unconventional and likely a challenge for many OA's to accept. Interesting...

One of the problems I have with SOME of this is the OA notion of "the reasons why are unimportant." That seems anti-intellect and anti-understanding to me. In the latest story a member shares that she was eating compulsively as a child but had a very happy childhood.
Doesn't seem possible to me. There HAD to have been some issues there that therapy would bring
out. I DON'T LIKE DENIAL OF REALITY! But... that's an individual choice of course; whether or not to aggressively delve into the F.O.O. stuff. Many won't do it.

Moving on... the stories in this new edition tend to be much shorter than in previous editions and are therefore lacking somewhat in depth. A lot of rah-rah stuff. The endings do need to be hopeful and positive - I do get that - but I'd like to get to know the story-tellers better. The upside is that more are included, for what it's worth.

Couple of good stories last night. The quality and relevance may vary but the message is consistent: There is a proven and workable method(working the 12-steps, meetings, sponsorship)... to grow up and find a reasonable sane, useful and happy life: AA, Alanon, OA, NA, SA, FA, ACA and on and on...

Moving on... most of the stories are from women, of course, as OA members are mostly women. Plenty of male food and eating addicts out there. Some of them in AA meetings! I appreciate the guy stories when the come up.

Moving on... a bit of my own background: been eating compulsively since childhood but at a level one might label "high-bottom." Plenty of eaters, drinkers and drug-users in the family tree, not to mention those of us with sex-addiction issues as well. Gambling... shopping... the list goes on. Anything that I find rewarding in any way I'm liable to pursue compulsively. Goodreads too? You bet! It's not a simple thing to have written 17,000+ book trivia questions. Only a few of us(my family) have gone the 12-step path. I've been on it since 1996 and it's saved my life; figuratively for sure if not necessarily physically. I've never been morbidly obese but have been up around 230 lb on a stocky 5' 9" frame. Fortunately for me I've maintained pretty good health all these years(I need to amend that statement in light of my recent - Summer 2018 - gut surgery/blood clot trauma), partially through my parents genetics and partly through being an active, athletic person. Of course some of us over-eaters use exercise as a means of purging calories. Been and done that too, but as I'm closing in on 70 now I can only exercise so much and... big surprise... my body has broken down a bit: bad hip(apparently genetic, bad knee - too much of that athletic stuff I guess). Still upright though. Anyway, finding permanent abstinent has been a daunting challenge for me. I keep falling off the wagon. That willpower/focus(or whatever) that sustained me through a bunch of 6-month/50-60 lb. diets seems to have deserted me in middle age. So... it's gotta be OA or nothing and that's why I keep coming back. I suggest YOU do the same... whoever you are.

Getting near the end now. One of the stories I read last night was SO close to my own story. This book/edition has many more(and briefer) stories than previous editions and with more geographic, sex and racial variety. They dumped all the old stories except for Roxanne's(the OA founder). Hers should go too or at least be edited down or written 3rd person. Same thing for Bill's story in the Big Book of AA. He ain't the second coming you guys!

Almost done with this very helpful book. I've been inspired and helped in my life-long battle with over-eating. Never give up!

Finished up last night and was NOT happy about the very last bit, Appendix D - A Disease of the Spirit by the late Episcopal minister Rollo Boas(died in 1980). This little attempt to be helpful was both sexist and religious. I AM a stickler about religion and sexist lingo. Others may have soft-core religious language if they wish but I'm not interested and I prefer to not see it in Conference approved literature. The same goes for any statement about "men" that doesn't say "men and women." Especially since OA is mostly female in its membership! If I'd been at the editorial meetings for this book I would have strenuously objected. It's not the word "God" that I object to, but the "glorifying" of it, etc., that turns me off. But, I wasn't involved with the production of the book so... I just have to "take what I like and leave the rest"! This book was 5* all the way until the end but now it's a 4* because of a poor choice(in my opinion) by the editors.

[Chris Tiernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've lost the same 50 lb half a dozen times. I feel I understand the mathematics of burning calories by expending more than you consume. But the mental and psychological components are such that very very few people who take off weight keep it off long-term. I'm willing to explore any and all supports. There's a lot of wisdom in this book.

[Fstorey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was the first book I read about recovering from compulsive eating and it saved my life. AA Big Book addresses more of the spiritual component of recovery, but this book addresses issues unique to those who eat for emotional reasons.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The appendix are where the real gold lies, but the tales of how different people with different backgrounds, and different experiences have come to OA and flourished are also really interesting and useful.

[Lori Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Powerful Book

I read this book like a gripping novel. But it isn’t. This book is full of true stories from everyday people like you and me - but whose lives have been upended because of an addiction... to food. A compulsion to eat, to deny food, to vomit food, and to eat to the point of illness and/or even death. Why do some people become addicted to food and eat compulsively? And what is the solution? This book has all the answers.

[Angela Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book even if you are not a compulsive overeater. If you compulsively overeat OA welcomes you. If you are just trying to understand a compulsive overeater you love/care about you will probably enjoy or get a lot from this book as well. A collection of stories from overeaters sharing their paths to abstinence by way of slips, lapses, and relapses. I found it heartwarming, compassionate and encouraging.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational and Encouraging Stories

[Dee Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m new to OA and found the book very inspirational !!! plus lots of gems to remember.

[Michelle Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like this book is exactly what I've been going through. It's also filled with love and courage.

[Justin Steckbauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, really enjoyed the personal stories.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent. Overeater's Anonymous far inferior take on the "Big Book," the AA for lack of a better term, "Bible." OA is an off-shoot of the well-known Alcoholics Anonymous 12 step program. To be sure, it is far less successful both on a group and individual level. In large part, I believe this is due to the fact that food is not optional. With alcohol, one is asked to give it up forever. Not possible to do with food. Therefore, the person must face their nemesis on a daily basis, usually at least three time per day. (I'm not saying gorging alcohol is easy, I'm sure it is very difficult.) Additionally, the meetings aren't as interesting. I am not an alcoholic; I can count on one hand the number of times I have consumed alcoholic in my lifetime. Still, I have been to AA meetings and they are interesting and full of friendly, welcoming people.
Oops, back to the book. It skips the layout of the program and is simply the stories of some members, including the group's founder. I like reading about people's experiences but alcohol makes for a much more riveting tale than cake.

[A. Macbeth’s bks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, am I sinking into the O.A. Way of Life? There are some O.A. things I can do now and some not .
Apparently O.A. Meetings are zehr touchy-feely with a dozen people sitting closely around in a circle with knees touching and all that. Too intimate for me, if you ask me. I KNOW I wouldn’t FIT IN with that, I never ever have .
Plus as a weight loss social club it’s zehr expensive for myself for each session .
But hey ! If ya gotta go there, they gotta take you .
They call it , Welcome Home to O.A. !
So which Step are you on ?
I’m still surveying the O.A. field, prepping for the Introductory Session, collecting and pre-reading SOME required official O.A. and A.A. literature.
And I’m prepping up to Step Four.
I just need a few more things and I need to get some more of my life more organized and then I could zip along to Step Four in the TWELVE STEP WORKBOOK AND STUDY GUIDE .
Here’s the BIG SECRET TO O.A. - it all comes from both A.A. and the Bible.
Have loads of FUN with O.A. , folks ! Cheers !

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me learn to take an honest inventory of myself instead of distracting myself from my feelings by eating food. Instead of turning to a compulsion, learning how to become aware of what was happening in my life and channeling my emotions properly has helped me feel more alive and loved as an honest, open human being. This book focuses not on a diet or exercise plan but a physical, emotional, and spiritual correction and renewal to have whole health. Even if a person isn't overweight or obese, compulsions can still be keeping them from true happiness--the 12 steps outlined to recognize one's real feelings and to deal with them are for anyone who is tired of feeling compulsively controlled by a substance or object. Great book (and program!)

[Selkie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this was considered a major breakthrough in the area of dealing with eating disorders, as before treatments had only the Alcohol Anonymous guidelines to go by, it did not really help me. The main reasons being: 1) [As mentioned in other, more current books regarding eating disorders] One may go without drinking, but to live, one cannot go without food, so the temptation to over-eat is stronger. 2) The "anonymous books" seem to gear one toward trading one addiction for another [albeit the other addiction may be religion, but unless one is sincere about it, rather than using it as a crutch, is it really better? 3)Is life really worth living without cheesecake?

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of true stories from OA members on how they got started with OA and became abstinent. I enjoyed some of the writings, but like any 12 step group, it's very faith (religious/God) based. For that reason alone, I had difficulty identifying with the people in many of these stories.

[Chris Gager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many great stories but needs to be updated with stories of people who didn't live through the Great Depression. They had the opportunity to do this with the newest edition but didn't go far enough.

[srggv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book for the rest of my life.

[Philip Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening

Very eye opening and I found it supportive of the benefits of joining OA and continuing to attend the meeting every week

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories in the book, but it got a little repetitive. I would have liked more of a variety, but I'm pretty interested in anything having to do with a 12 step program.

[Danielle Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable

I've never read anything I identified with more. In all of these stories I saw a little of myself. In some of these stories I saw a lot of myself

[Any Length · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant new 3rd edition of this very helpful book.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't my favourite, but had some good new stories. Will probably re-read anyway. :)

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this book. It's an amazing read!