Local support groups offer a place for those suffering eating disorders to discuss their problems with people facing similar challenges.

Five to 10 million women and one million men in America suffer from eating disorders, according to the Empowered Parents Web site, www.empoweredparents.com.

“I was upset one night and threw a pizza away in the garbage so I couldn’t get to it. That same night I went back and ate that pizza. That’s when I knew I needed help,” said an Overeaters Anonymous member. “I have since been a member for two years,” she said.

Overeaters Anonymous is a worldwide support group for recovering compulsive overeaters. The support group’s local meetings provide members an opportunity to anonymously express their thoughts and emotions.

Walk-ins are welcome at every meeting.

“The only requirement for membership is that they have to have the desire to want to stop eating compulsively,” said an OA member of 12 years.

OA meets at 6:15 p.m. every Thursday at the Newman Center, 512 Normal Road.

The group subscribes to a 12-step program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous’ program.

With the holiday season around the corner, it may be difficult for many people not to eat and even more difficult to combat holiday eating while following a 12-step program.

“It’s hard,” said an OA member, “and some people do relapse.”

A seven-year OA member said his problem started in high school when he was teased about being overweight. He gained and lost weight throughout his adult life.

“I have tried Weight Watchers, read books on diets and exercised compulsively,” he said. “Before OA, I felt there was no help for me because I would lose weight, eat and then gain more.”

Some feel that the OA is not helpful in treating different types of eating disorders.

Dr. Kathy Hotelling, psychologist and director of NIU’s Counseling and Student Development Center, does not recommend OA as a solution to all eating disorders.

“I have been treating people with eating disorders for 25 years,” Hotelling said, “and in my experience in working with people going to OA, I find that it is not helpful if you suffer from bulimia or anorexia.”

Some OA members suffering from eating disorders said they feel the group has helped.

“Many people overeat for many different reasons,” said a former bulimic and OA member. “I can’t say enough about what OA has done to help me overcome this disease.”

Symptoms of an eating disorder:

– Obsession with body weight, size and shape

– Eating binges or grazing

– Preoccupation with reducing diets

– Starving

– Laxative or diuretic abuse

– Excessive exercise

– Inducing vomiting after eating

– Chewing and spitting out food

– Use of diet pills, shots and other medical interventions to control weight

– Inability to stop eating certain foods after taking the first bite

– Fantasies about food

– Vulnerability to quick weight-loss schemes

– Constant preoccupation with food

– Using food as a reward or comfort

Source: Overeaters Anonymous

On American college campuses today, 40 to 50 percent of young women are disordered eaters Source: Empowered Parents