15 Questions

This series of questions may help you determine if you are a compulsive overeater. Many members of Overeaters Anonymous have found that they have answered yes to many of these questions.

Are You A Compulsive Overeater?

1. Do you eat when you are not hungry?
2. Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason?
3. Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating?
4. Do you give too much time and thought to food?
5. Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone?
6. Do you plan these secret binges ahead of time?
7. Do you eat sensibly before others and make up for it alone?
8. Is your weight affecting the way you live your life?
9. Have you tried dieting for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?
10. Do you resent others telling you to "use a little willpower" to stop overeating?
11. Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet "on your own" whenever you wish?
12. Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than mealtime?
13. Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble?
14. Have you ever been treated for obesity or a food-related condition?
15. Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy?

Overeaters Anonymous has meetings every day of every week in locations around the Bay Area and the World.

Please visit oabayarea.org to find meetings in other locations in the Bay Area.

The following individuals are not counselors, they are members of our fellowship who are in recovery and have regularly attended O.A. meetings for the last three months. These members are willing to take your call when you need to talk to someone.

Name	Phone
Bob	(925) 935-5527
Ellen	gaves@pacbell.net
Amy	(925) 969-9249

What you WON'T find at OA meetings are weigh-ins, packaged meals, dues, fees, "shoulds," "musts" or judgment.

What you WILL find at meetings is:

• Acceptance of you - as you are now, as you were, as you will be.
  
• Understanding of the problems you now face - problems almost certainly shared by others in the group.
  
• Communication that comes as the natural result of our mutual understanding and acceptance.
  
• Recovery from your illness.
  
• Power to enter a new way of life through the acceptance and understanding of yourself, the practice of the Twelve-Step recovery program, the belief in a power greater than yourself, and the support and companionship of the group.

If you decide that you are one of us, we welcome you with open arms. Whatever your circumstances, we offer you the gift of acceptance. You are not alone anymore. Welcome to Overeaters Anonymous. Welcome home!

Service is Carrying the Message!

There are many opportunities to do service in meetings, such as secretary, treasurer, literature person, speaker getter, or intergroup rep. Meetings close not just due to lack of attendance, but lack of those willing to volunteer to do these vital tasks. The next time a slot is announced, please consider raising your hand and making this small commitment.