Meetings

Newcomers are welcome at ALL OA meetings.

You do not have to register to attend an OA meeting. It is a good idea to reach out to the contact person to make sure the meeting information on this list is current. We want to make sure that someone is there to welcome you when you arrive at a meeting that you have never visited before.

What is the format of an OA Meeting?

There are suggested formats for many types of OA meetings:

All meeting formats can be found in the Document Library under category “Meeting Formats, ” groups may decide to change the meeting formats to better meet their needs.

We recommend attending five different meetings to decide which one works for you. You can also listen to a recording of an OA meeting.

What is a specific-topic meeting?

Specific-topic meetings are designed for a specific subject matter or format. It is still an OA meeting and it still means we use the Twelve Steps to recover from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors. All OA members are welcome at these meetings. For a full list, see the Find A Meeting page.

Within the OA Fellowship there are many diverse ways of working the program. Specific topics indicate what you will share about in these meetings; the literature that will be read, what a speaker will talk about, if the members have a specific way of working their program. Each member—and subsequently each group—may adopt whatever method they choose to share their recovery as long as they meet the definition of a group. The best way to determine if a group is a registered OA group is to select it from the Find A Meeting search.

90 Day
Ask-It-Basket
Literature
Literature (AA 12/12
Literature (Big Book
Literature (OA Second and/or Third Edition
Literature (OA Steps and/or Traditions Study
Maintenance
Newcomer
OA HOW
Recovery from Relapse
Speaker
Spirituality
Spirituality (11th Step
Spirituality (Meditation
Tools
Topic
Varies
Writing

What is the difference between a meeting with visitors and a meeting without visitors?

The designation of “with visitors” and “without visitors” meetings have to do with the level of anonymity the group has chosen.

If you think you have issues with food and are interested in exploring OA, you are welcome at any meeting—with or without visitors.

If you are interested in OA for another reason, like you are studying to be a nurse, doctor, or therapist, or are a concerned family member, we ask that you only attend meetings with visitors.

What is a specific-focus meeting?

Within the OA Fellowship, there are members who have discovered they are more comfortable meeting with other members who share similar attributes. All OA members are welcome at these meetings. For a full list, see the Find A Meeting page.

Agnostics & Atheists
Anorexic/Bulimic
Asian American Pacific Islander
Bariatric Surgery
Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)
Dual Recovery OA Focused
Health Issues
LGBTQ+
Men
Women
Young Persons

What is cross talk at a meeting?

Cross talk during an OA meeting is giving advice to others who have already shared, speaking directly to another person rather than to the group, and questioning or interrupting the person speaking at the time. Read more.

Is it okay to mention food at an OA meeting?

OA has no specific guideline about mentioning food at meetings. Tradition Four gives each group the freedom to decide this issue for itself. If you or others in your group are concerned about this, ask the group to discuss the issue during a group conscience meeting.

What if I have specific needs, am hearing or visually impaired, or need wheelchair accessibility?

Contact your local service body to find out what is available in your area. Virtual meetings may be useful if there are limited options for assistance.

May I share at my first meeting?

Yes. There are no requirements for sharing at any OA meeting—face-to-face or virtual.

Do I have to speak at an OA meeting?

No. We will only ask you to share your first name so we may welcome you.

Find out more about OA Meetings from the following posts: