Is Your Appetite Out of Control?

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Hungry for Help

If you can't stop eating, you're not alone. Overeaters Anonymous (OA) began in 1960 with one mission: to help compulsive eaters. Some members are obese; others are underweight. What they have in common is an obsession with food. There are 6,500 OA groups with an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 members worldwide. A majority -- 85 percent -- are women. OA follows a 12-step program modeled after the one used by Alcoholics Anonymous. Members start by admitting they are powerless over food. Meeting formats may vary, but all seek recovery on three levels: physical, emotional, and spiritual. OA recommends trying six different groups before deciding on the one that's right for you.

However, the program may not be a good fit for everyone. According to a 2002 survey of members, 56 percent said their food obsession had been lifted, but 44 percent said it hadn't. For more information, go to oa.org.

-- Susan Koeppen, consumer correspondent for CBS News' The Early Show and our new contributor

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, March 2007.

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a3984502 wrote:

Right now I am following the Diet Plan for You blog by nutrition specialist Kate Hill. Kate helped me lose weight in a healthy way in few weeks, without starving! If you want to lose weight, just visit Kate's blog at: http://dietplanforyou.blogspot.com

3/4/2012 03:29:53 AM Report Abuse

anonymous wrote:

I am also addicted to peanut butter. I can relate to it and binging on the foods that I deprived myself from eating. I but what can i do if it makes me feel better when I grab a spoonful of PB and I can't stop myself to lick more. After that craving force myself in exercising to death. Is this psychological?

11/13/2011 08:31:35 AM Report Abuse

sdsh247 wrote:

just called to start OA. if i have never stuck to a diet, how can i do this? these people will be the ones who feel the same way

7/12/2011 02:29:35 AM Report Abuse

rylanceglenburn wrote:

I totally relate to the exercise-binge cycle. HELP

9/30/2010 02:53:11 PM Report Abuse

savsmith79 wrote:

@countainborcua- I read somewhere that your body craves food when your tired because it's trying to find energy through food. Do you crave foods with high sugar and fat? That could be the reason.

9/28/2010 02:12:55 PM Report Abuse