Can Overeaters Anonymous cure Binge Eating Disorder?
Will Overeaters Anonymous (OA) fix binge eating disorder?
This is such a common question, and something I feel is important to explore, to ensure that individuals with an eating disorder - ANY eating disorder - can access appropriate and effective care.
To answer this, it’s important to first understand what exactly OA is, and it’s guiding philosophy.
What is Overeaters Anonymous?
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) was created to provide a supportive, peer-led community for individuals struggling with compulsive eating, binge eating, food addiction, and other disordered eating behaviours. The organization was founded in 1960 by Rosanne S. in Los Angeles, California, after she recognized that her struggles with food were similar to the struggles with alcohol addiction experienced by members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Overeaters Anonymous is directly modelled after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and follows the same principles and structure, with a focus on food instead of alcohol.
OA uses the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, which are adapted from AA. These steps guide members through the process of recognizing their powerlessness over food, seeking help from a higher power, making amends for past behaviours, and helping others who struggle with similar issues.
Anonymity and Fellowship: Like AA, OA places a strong emphasis on anonymity, creating a confidential space where members can share openly without fear of judgment or repercussions. Meetings are typically structured around sharing personal stories and offering mutual support.
Spiritual Component: OA, like AA, incorporates a spiritual element into its recovery model. Members are encouraged to seek support from a higher power (which can be interpreted in any way that is personally meaningful) as part of their recovery process.
Abstinence Concept: Instead of complete abstinence from alcohol, OA promotes abstinence from compulsive overeating or other unhealthy eating behaviours. Members often work with a sponsor and develop a personalized plan of eating that helps them regain control of their relationship with food.
The guiding philosophies and purpose of Overeaters Anonymous seem to have good intention.
Addressing Compulsive Eating: OA was created to help individuals who felt powerless over their eating habits, including compulsive overeating, binge eating, and food addiction. Many people found that despite efforts to control their eating, they were unable to stop unhealthy behaviours or feelings related to food.
Support and Community: OA aimed to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment where individuals could share their experiences, receive emotional support, and learn from others who were facing similar struggles.
The 12 Step program used for addictions recovery has been modified and applied to eating disorders, and has resulted in some success for people. This success is most likely due to the variety of services the program offers, such as mentorship, community connection, accountability, accessibility, and communication. These are very powerful tools, and cannot be discounted. There are many parallels between addiction and eating disorder, there are however, a few important differences that should be considered.
Why is Overeaters Anonymous (OA) NOT helpful for Binge Eating Disorder?
First, the 12 step program promotes abstinence. This is vital for recovery from substance abuse, however, this is problematic when applied to E.D. recovery for two reasons:
An individual requires food, multiple times per day, to survive.
EXPOSURE to fear foods actually decreases urges over time, making it safer for the person to have access to trigger foods, and increase their feelings of power around food.
ABSTINENCE
OA recommends reviewing eating patterns to determine the foods and behaviours that may cause cravings. It says that if a food has been a binge food in the past, people should remove it from their plan.
Foods OA identifies as potentially problematic include:
“junk foods”, such as chocolate, branded fast foods, potato chips, and cookies
foods containing sugar or sugar substitutes, such as sweetened drinks, cereals, processed meats, and desserts
foods containing fats, such as butter and other high-fat dairy, deep-fried foods, and snacks
foods containing wheat, flour, or refined carbohydrates, such as certain pastas, breads, and pastries
foods labeled “sugar-free,” “no sugar added,” “diet,” “low fat,” and “low calorie”
ethnic and cultural foods
foods with specific textures, such as creamy, crunchy, sticky, chewy, oily, juicy, salty, and doughy
These classifications can be harmful. For example, labeling ethnic and cultural foods as “problematic” demonstrates prejudice and may cause significant barriers; , labelling food as “junk” or “bad”, which amplifies the guilt and shame a person with an eating disorder can experience if/when they eat these types of foods, and cements the idea that food is a moral issue (it isn’t!).
Food is not good or bad, it simply is. A true intuitive eater knows that all foods fit, and use their attuned body cues to determine what to eat for function AND for enjoyment.
As well, we know that abstinence from specific foods/foods groups actually amplifies the likelihood of bingeing.
BLACK AND WHITE THINKING
The 12 Step program is modelled on black and white thinking - either you are abstaining, or you are engaging in your addiction. This works for substance abuse, as there is no safe amount of heroin, for example, to consume. But eating disorder recovery is about helping clients “find space in the grey”, and challenging black and white/all or nothing thinking. This rigid idea that promotes perfection is highly problematic psychologically, too. Your relationship with food will be nuanced, and organically changing day to day.
The abstinence model inadvertently promotes the idea that certain foods are the cause of binge eating disorder, or, conversely, if you just find the “perfect” way to eat, you will no longer binge.
But, food in and of itself is not addictive - we cannot be addicted to something required to live; this would be akin to be addicted to oxygen. In addition, if one particular food/food group was the reason for an eating disorder, recovery would be as “simple” as either reintegrating or eliminating that one particular food.
In fact, according to a 2021 article, the OA food plan has received past criticism for supporting carbohydrate restriction. Experts have also stated that the plan recommends unrealistic food rules that have an association with binge eating. (Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/does-overeaters-anonymous-food-plan-work#oa-food-plan)
Here’s the thing. People who binge ALSO always restrict, it’s part of the binge cycle. A person can restrict the amount of food (ie: calories), or could be eating enough calories, but mentally restricting by labelling certain foods as “good” or “bad”, and in many cases, they do both.
Our brains are interesting, complex machines - when we tell them “no” - guess what? That’s the very thing we think about and want even more.
(Note: you can enhance your learning about the effects of dieting/restriction on the binge cycle HERE)
Eating disorders, all forms, are complex psychological illnesses; they are “fuelled by cultural climate” which can promote feelings of dissatisfaction and negative feelings toward the body, predisposition, family history, character traits, and underlying issues that can culminate in the development of an eating disorder. They are “not about the biological make up of food, but rather the biological make up of “the individual”.”
PERSONIFICATION
The 12 Step program also encourages participants to “surrender” to their addiction. This is evident in their customary introductions, “hello, my name is _________, and I am an alcoholic”.
At The Holistic ED Recovery Center, we model Carolyn Costin’s (Monde Nido founder and pioneer in the field of eating disorder treatment) that an individual is NOT their disorder, and giving some yourself some space from it can be very beneficial.
Instead of identifying as your illness, saying you struggle with the disorder can achieve this. This also promotes the belief that FULL recovery is possible, which contradicts the addictions model of “once an addict, always an addict”.
If you have an eating disorder, it is probable that you will have fear foods, food rules, and trigger foods. This is not in any way a personal failing, or a character flaw, or a lack of willpower - these are symptoms of the illness. Part of the recovery process is about neutralizing these foods through calculated exposure, practice, and cognitive reframing of their meaning to you. Removing them or avoiding them only amplifies their power over the individual.
(If you want to learn more about how this neutralization process happens, read more here: Nutrition Stages and Normalizing Fear Foods in Eating Disorder Recovery)
Of course, just like any other type of eating disorder, binge eating disorder is a complex physiological, emotional and cognitive illness, and addressing all areas of the illness is ultimately necessary for a full recovery.
At The Holistic ED Recovery Center, we do not believe in a One Size Fits All approach, and develop fully customized Program Plans that suite your lifestyle, your needs, and your stage in the recovery journey. The Integration of mind, body, and soul healing occurring concurrently throughout the duration of your personalized recovery plan, ensuring that you are treated as a whole person, not simply a checklist of symptoms.
We understand that no two eating disorders are the same, and that many adults need to find ways to recover without taking immense amounts of time off from their lives. Our Virtual Recovery Program was developed in response to a growing need for intensive and comprehensive support, from the comfort of your own home.
Our programs:
Fully personalized
100% virtual and accessible
Available seven days a week*
Do not require a pre-diagnosis or referral
Can include nutrition, recovery coaching, and naturopathic medicine
If you are ready for change, or even contemplating it, and want to learn more, we are here to help.
Book your FREE DISCOVERY CALL today, and get started on your journey to food freedom, and freedom from ED.
