“These Twelve Traditions are to the groups what the Twelve Steps are to the individual. They are suggested principles to ensure the survival and growth of the many groups that compose Overeaters Anonymous.”

—The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous

The Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous

A {spiritual principle} is associated with each of the following Twelve Traditions. Click on the Tradition to listen to a Podcast Series presented by OA.org.

Tradition One {Honesty} Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon OA unity.
Tradition Two {Hope} For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority — a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
Tradition Three {Faith} The only requirement for OA membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively.
Tradition Four {Courage} Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or OA as a whole.
Tradition Five {Integrity} Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the compulsive overeater who still suffers.
Tradition Six {Willingness} An OA group ought never endorse, finance or lend the OA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
Tradition Seven {Humility} Every OA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
Tradition Eight {Self-discipline} Overeaters Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
Tradition Nine {Love} OA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
Tradition Ten {Perseverance} Overeaters Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence, the OA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
Tradition Eleven {Spiritual Awareness} Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, television and other public media of communication.
Tradition Twelve {Service} is the spiritual foundation of all these Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Permission to use the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous for adaptation granted by AA World Services, Inc.

Enjoy these to learn more:

• Spirituality, Sponsorship, and Service Go Hand in Hand
• Take a Walk Down the Traditions (videos)

For an in-depth study of the Twelve Steps, read The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, Second Edition available from the OA bookstore.

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