The 15 Questions from OA

These are the 15 questions Overeaters Anonymous lists as a self-assessment tool. I posted them in my blog but I'm really curious to see how many of us here on PEERtrainer can relate. Depending on the day, I can easily say "yes" to 10 - 13 of them. What about you guys?

1. Do you eat when you're not hungry?
2. Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason?
3. Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating?
4. Do you give too much time and thought to food?
5. Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone?
6. Do you plan these secret binges ahead of time?
7. Do you eat sensibly before others and make up for it alone?
8. Is your weight affecting the way you live your life?
9. Have you tried to diet for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?
10. Do you resent others telling you to "use a little willpower" to stop overeating?
11. Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet "on your own" whenever you wish?
12. Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than mealtime?
13. Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble?
14. Have you ever been treated for obesity or a food-related condition?
15. Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy?

Mon. Sep 18, 3:04pm

Sorry, I forgot to sign the post.

Kate (kissmekate02)

Link

Monday, September 18, 2006, 3:04 PM

I answered yes to 7 of these...

Monday, September 18, 2006, 3:12 PM

I'm 'yes' to 10 of them but I'm not even what you would call 'overweight'. I guess 'overeater' doesn't necessarily mean 'overweight', though...
Interesting list!

Monday, September 18, 2006, 4:16 PM

I'm a yes to about 10 of them...

Monday, September 18, 2006, 8:42 PM

"Is your weight affecting the way you live your life?"

I answered yes to this, but in a POSITIVE way -- I'm much lighter than I was, and it definitely has an effect! Is that a bad thing?

Monday, September 18, 2006, 9:46 PM

I only said yes to 3 of them. I'm an overeater, just not anonymous, I guess!
- tnt0617 : )

Monday, September 18, 2006, 9:49 PM

I only said yes to 3 of them too! 1+8+9. Even if I was answering this 16 months and 37 lbs ago, the only extra yes would have been for 13.

Now, if they'd asked me "do you love food" or "do you enjoy eating" or "did you spend too much time sitting on your butt the last few years and thus get fat" or "did you hate being obese" then they would have found the crux of my problems!!

I'd be interested to hear what PTers say to Q10, since I've said that to ppl in my groups in the past!

- pfrau

Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 12:35 AM

Wow this is scary. Yes to 1 thru 3, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15

maybe I should join OA along with WW....

Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 3:05 AM

I had 6 yes's some of those are very generic though so if your honest I don't know many people who wouldn't say yes to at least a couple.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 8:04 AM

To the 3:05 poster

OA and WW have conflicting approaches. The WW theory is that you can eat anything, just in moderation. OE says there are some things you can NEVER eat. In fact, you start out with an incredibly restrictive diet.

I think OA is for compulsive and addicted eaters.

To the OP - Do they say how many "yes" answer suggest you have a problem?

Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 10:50 AM

pfrau - your 3 were the same as my 3! AND, I would have also said yes to your additional questions!
tnt0617

Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 2:00 PM

They don't say how many "yeses" signify an addiction, probably on purpose. I think it's more of a self-reflection, to try to get you to think about WHY you are answering yes to those questions. Planning secret binges? Eating to escape worries or problems? I know for me, answering yes to most of those questions does signify a serious addiction to food - but this is something I've known about myself for a long time. I mean, alcoholics plan secret drinking binges and drink to escape problems. It's the same basic tenet of addiction. But I do agree with the posters who have said that a lot of them are generic or can be interpreted in more than one way. Again, I think it's looking at these questions individually and determining what they mean for you, and if they are issues that need to be worked on. Are these the problems or are these symptoms of a bigger problem?

Kate

Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 2:31 PM

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