Eating as an obsession

AS MANY as 2,000 members of Overeaters Anonymous will be coming to Vancouver tater this month to attend a World Service Convention. The North Shore group meets every Tuesday night to address the problem of

compulsive overeating.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS GIVES SUPPORT

IT’S FINE to have food for thought. And we can have fun with food. But what do we do when the consumption of food becomes a conipulsive obsession?

As many as 2.000 compulsive overeaters will be coming from around the world to share their answers at an upcoming Overeaters Anonymous (OA) World Service Convention, July 28 to 30, at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver.

The event marks the first time since the inception of OA 29 years ago that the convention is being held outside the United States. Over 50 countries will be zepre- sented at the conference. The event is open to ihe general public.

By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporter

tendency to put on weight, but my problem is compulsive overeating,’ she said.

The perception that OA draws the bulk of its members from those who are chronically overweight is wrong, according to Walter, a 48- year-old economist from Nortk Vancouver.

“] think it’s self definitional,’’ he said. “You are a compulsive

a

*¥ was totaily immobile to resolve my own life, because I was so stuck on it. Everything else didn’t matter and I had no energy to deal with other things. Now, food and weight is still a concern, but I can

live my life.”

The North Shore OA group meets every Tuesday at 8 p.m. and includes a membership of about 20 people. The local group is one of 28 active in the Lower Mainland.

OA first formed in 1960 in Los Angeles. The program is patterned on the principles and [2-step re- covery approach developed by Al- coholics Anonymous.

Bonny, a 49-year-old self- employed North Vancouver resi- dent who is a member of the local group, defines compulsive overeating this way: ‘‘A com- pulsive overeater is somebody who is focused on food practically all the time. Nothing else matters. When will I eat next? Where will | get it?

“I's more than just enjoying food. I enjoy food and I have a

— Overeaters Anonymous member,

overeater, if you think you are, And if you don’t, even if you’re 500 pounds, I wouldn't say you are. it's very subjective. If you think you’re out of contro! with food, then that’s it.’’

Members may be suffering from eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa.

Walter has been an active OA member for the past nine years. His weight was up and down like a yo-yo for 20 years before he turned to a group to resolve his problem.

“My weight was continually fluctuating,”” he said. ‘I'm 5°8°’, and I'm now about 160 pounds. Before the program my weight us- ed to fluctuate from about 175 to 220. 1 had four separate sets of clothing: skinny, fat, medium fat and super fat. I never threw out

any set because I knew I'd be back there, either on the way up or on the way down.

“It’s very stressful. Since then, I’ve only got one set of clothes — super skinny. Before OA I never realized fully that there were other people who had this craziness.”

According to Bonny, OA works with eight basic tools: abstinence (abstaining from compulsive overeating); anonymity {te allow open discussion); sponsorship (the buddy system); telephone (regular supportive contact); tapes and lit-

- erature (the core of which is the

AA guide book); weekly meetings; writing (journal keeping); service (program volunteering).

For most, living the OA creed is an ongoing commitment. Said 43- year-old Helena, a full-time psychology student, ‘‘We don’t really believe this obsession goes away. It is a lifelong commitment to myself to really do something about it.’’

A local OA member for four years, Helena lived her life around food and losing weight.

“IT was totally immobile to resolve my own life, because I was so stuck on it. Everything else didn’t matter and I had no energy to deal with other things. Now, food and weight is still a concern, but I can live my life. Just discuss- ing it with other people helps tremendously,’’ she said.

The program doesn’t entail a dietary component. Said Bonny, “See a nutritionist. Success is in designing your own program. We don’t have scales. We don’t keep track of how much everybody weighs.’’

OA meetings are self-supporting through voluntary membership contributions. For more informa- tion about the loca] club contact Bonny at 983-2790.

27 -— Sunday, July 2, 1989 - Worth Shore News

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Gown causes grief

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