PEER SUPPORT
Food addiction is a substance use disorder like other addictions that require a lot of support for recovery. You may get some support from your family and friends, but they may not be able to give you the level of support necessary to gain control over your addictive behaviors regarding food consumption.
Twelve step groups have been effective for many people to achieve recovery with others who are facing similar challenges to overcome food addiction. These groups can offer you access to publications, meetings and other food addicts who are working on their recovery. However, not all peer support groups are the same, even if they belong to the same network - specific meetings can offer different experiences. You can find a group that suits your specific needs.
Here are some questions to consider when choosing a group:
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Does the group promote abstinence from identified trigger foods to achieve recovery from food addiction?
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Does the group have members who have been abstinent for a long time?
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Are abstinent members willing to mentor or sponsor newcomers?
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Is there a culture of daily practice and asking for support to achieve and maintain long term recovery?
Greysheeters Anonymous (GSA)
GreySheeters Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from compulsive eating. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop eating compulsively. Our primary purpose is to stay abstinent and help other compulsive eaters to achieve abstinence.*
OA90
90 days refers to refraining from sharing on a meeting until 90 continuous days of adherence to a food plan —remaining abstinent—has been achieved. By remaining abstinent for 90 days the effect of previous problem foods can wear off and it can take 90 days for a new habit (abstinence) to replace an old one (eating as a response to problems).
OvereatersAnonymous.org (OA)
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is a community of people who support each other in order to recover from compulsive eating and food behaviors.
Food Addicts In Recovery
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA), a program based on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from the disease of food addiction.
SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery is a fresh approach to addiction recovery. SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. This is more than an acronym: it is a transformative method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change.
Compulsive Eaters Anonymous (HOW)
CEA-HOW is a 12-step program in which men and women meet to help solve their common problem of compulsive eating. We consider this phrase to include overeating, binge eating, anorexia, bulimia, and other food-related compulsive behaviors.
OA HOW Virtual Intergroup (HVIG)
OA HOW is a movement within Overeaters Anonymous (OA) whose basic principle is that abstinence is the only means to freedom from compulsive eating and relief from the the obsessions of food addiction.
Food Addicts Breaking Free
We are an international community of people who are recovering from Food Addiction using the Twelve Step approach. We meet by phone to offer support to each other by sharing our experience, strength, and hope.
Recovery From Food Addiction (RFA)
RFA is a fellowship of women and men dedicated to physical, spiritual, and emotional recovery by abstaining from sugar, flour, and wheat in all forms and by living the twelve steps of recovery to the best of our ability.
Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA)
Food Addicts Anonymous is an organization that believes that food addiction is a biochemical disorder that occurs at a cellular level. This Twelve Steps program believes that food addiction can be managed by abstaining from (eliminating) addictive foods, following a program of sound nutrition (a Food Plan), and working the Twelve Steps of the program.