History

Historically, OCD types, control freaks, have often pushed for control on other issues. They came up with definitions of abstinence and other ways to control other people. They have also provoked two major split offs, both over the "carbohydrate controversy" (which came, caused a split, was rediscovered, caused another split). The split offs, fondly referred to as OA Nazis, get results, but they drive the OCD types even crazier, and they coined the return reference "fat acceptance" for those in OA who have not abandoned sugar and flour.

The big push back was driven by deluded OCDers backed up by malpracticing nutritionists who had been misled by incompetent summaries of the research into thinking that the HOW people were going to kill themselves through malnutrition and one too many good steaks. Some actually used force to take "gray sheets" (the anti-carb diet) away from people.

You can get a great view of the science in the following books (pick them up through your library):

Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes (Hardcover - Sep 25, 2007) - Roughcut Buy new: $27.95 $18.45 48 Used & new from $15.00 Get it by Tuesday, April 29 if you order in the next 21 hours and choose one-day shipping. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping. (152) Books: See all 9,005 items

2. The Great Cholesterol Con: The Truth About What Really Causes Heart Disease and How to Avoid It by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick (Paperback - Jan 1, 2007) Buy new: $16.95 $11.53 23 Used & new from $10.28 Get it by Tuesday, April 29 if you order in the next 21 hours and choose one-day shipping. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping. (20) Books: See all 9,005 items

3. Carb Wars: Sugar is the New Fat by Judy Barnes Baker (Paperback - April 1, 2007) Buy new: $21.95 $14.93 11 Used & new from $13.22 Get it by Tuesday, April 29 if you order in the next 21 hours and choose one-day shipping. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping. (18) Books: See all 9,005 items

4. The Diet Delusion: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom on Diet, Weight Loss and Disease by Gary Taubes (Hardcover - Jan 17, 2008) - Import 3 Used & new from $35.09 Books: See all 9,005 items

Types of compulsive eaters

There are a lot of different reasons people are compulsive overeaters (though OA also has groups for anorexics, it is really a group for people who are compulsive about their eating).

The types are:

1. Compulsive OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) types.
2. Carbohydrate addicts.
3. Misplaced coping skills (people who eat to cope).
4. Misplaced set points

Most people when they start OA enter what is called the "pink cloud." Just starting results in a period of weight loss for most people. It isn't until that is over that anything relevant happens.

The OCD types just flip their switches. Instead of eating compulsively, they are compulsive about not eating. Carbohydrate addicts either end up with the Nazi OA or the Fat Acceptance OA (OA-HOW or mainstream OA). The troubled, who eat to cope, will end up at their natural set point (probably displaced by years of abuse). Those whose set points are just off for one reason or another won't make much progress, but they'll be more relaxed about it.