You are not alone. For atheists, agnostics, and others with different spiritual or religious beliefs beyond the mainstream,  “the god thing” in Overeaters Anonymous (OA)* can be hard to navigate. Theist, patriarchal, and proselytizing assumptions in OA materials can create serious barriers to recovery. And sometimes in meetings, we hear well-meaning voices claim that the only path to abstinence and recovery is through divine intervention.  

We disagree. Fellows who have decades of success working a secular program are here to share their experience as recovering overeaters (and recovering addicts)—independent of religious beliefs and never having to “act as if” they believe in things they don’t.

Recovery is about healing the human spirit. Your options may vary, but no gods or miracles are required.