An exploratory study of eating disorder psychopathology among Overeaters Anonymous members

Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is a widely available, 12-step, self-help treatment program primarily used for weight loss that also offers to address eating disorder (ED) symptoms. However, because of OA's tradition of avoiding contact with "outside enterprises," little research has examined eating pathology among OA members. The present, uncontroled study examined current, self-reported ED psychopathology with the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire among 20 self-selected OA members. Consistent with OA's aim to address compulsive overeating, rates of subjective and objective bulimic episodes and eating concern were significantly elevated among OA members relative to norms for adult women, demonstrating medium effects, and restraint showed a significant, small effect. Other ED symptoms, including weight concern and compensatory behaviors, were not statistically different from norms, yet demonstrated small effect sizes. We conclude that many OA members may experience ED psychopathology that extends beyond binge eating.