How Food Addicts Anonymous Works

Recovering from Eating Obsessions and Body Image Struggles

Jan 22, 2009

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous helps people recover from all forms of food addiction, including food obsession and body image struggles.

Kim is the Public Information Committee Chair for the Western Area Intergroup of Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous. In this Q & A, she explains why Food Addicts Anonymous works and how it helps people overcome body image struggles.

LPK: What exactly is Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous?

KR: Food Addicts is a fellowship of individuals recovering from all forms of food addiction, food obsession, and body obsession including over-eating, under-eating, bulimia, bingeing, etc. Our program is based upon the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. We do not have online meetings, but we have physical meetings all over the US and Canada, as well as in other countries all over the world. We also have members working our program in areas where they do not have access to meetings. Like all of our members, these folks work closely with a sponsor who guides them in their recovery.

There is a complete list of our physical meeting locations on our website, Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, as well as other helpful information and contact phone numbers.

How do you know if you're a food addict?

We have a list of 20 questions which many of us have found useful in identifying our food addiction disease. The best way to decide for oneself is to attend a food addicts’ meeting and listen to other members, to see if anything resonates.

Are food addicts always obese?

People come to Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous overweight, underweight, morbidly and dangerously obese, or in seemingly normal weight bodies. Most all of us share an overwhelming obsession with food, our weight, and our body image.

What advice would you give people if they can't attend a Food Addicts meeting?

Call one of the phone numbers available on our website. There are contact names and phone numbers listed for members with every meeting. All of these people would be more than happy to share their experience and help someone get started in our program and find a sponsor if they want that.

How do people overcome a food addiction?

Again, our program is based on the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of AA. Most of us have tried hundreds, if not thousands of diets, exercise regimens, self-help books, injections, surgeries, doctors, therapists, aversion techniques... the list goes on and on... with no lasting success. Only by surrendering to the 12 steps have we been able to achieve any long term peace of mind. We have members with as much as 30+ years of abstinence from addictive eating who have been living in normal, healthy-sized bodies, free from compulsion and obsession with food.

Who runs the Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous meetings?

Each meeting is opened and led by a different member each week. We rotate service positions and have no paid or professional therapists, governing bodies, etc. Our decision-making process is by group conscience.

How long does it take for someone to recover from a food addiction?

We believe we suffer from a disease which is incurable but which can be arrested - one day at a time - by our adapting to a disciplined way of eating and by living the 12 steps and 12 traditions to the best of our ability. In terms of feeling better, many have experienced an almost instant sense of relief from obsession beginning with our first day of abstinent eating. Those who need to lose weight in order to be in a healthy body usually find weight loss easy, and yet they’re rarely hungry.

What would most surprise people to learn about Food Addiction?

Much of what we have learned from years of painful trial and error is more recently being investigated by the scientific community, including the highly addictive drug-like reaction our bodies often have to refined flour and sugar products. We believe our bodies have developed an allergy of sorts to these substances which sets up an uncontrollable craving. Once we take one bite, we are powerless to stop.

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support are recovering from the disease of food addiction. There are no dues, fees, or weigh-ins – they are self-supporting through their own contributions.

The copyright of the article How Food Addicts Anonymous Works in Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish How Food Addicts Anonymous Works in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.