OA's opinion of Obesity Surgery

July 30, 2001

I posted an email to and online OA group that I am a member of. I attend a

OA group locally and I have been afraid to raise the subject for fear of the

reaction I would receive. So I tried it out on an on-line OA list I am a

member of. I asked for honest feedback because I wanted to get a feel for

the reaction I might get in a face to face meeting locally. Well, I tell

ya, I didn't like the reception I got. My feelings were terribly hurt. I

asked for honesty and BLAM did I get it.

Several people responded by saying that I should not discuss this sort of

thing on an OA list. One lady said I was breaking the " traditions " of OA by

doing so. One said that I was trying to take the easy way out and that the

way to thinness is through the OA program. A couple of people admitted that

they have considered/are considering surgery. Then the moderator posted a

post saying among other things:

" We are not a group on obesity, except as it may

relate to our feelings. As a group,we do not

focus on cures for obesity. We have experience

that if the compulsion is taken away, the obesity

will no longer be a problem. "

Then I was asked to drop the discussion. Obviously I will drop it. In

fact, I may unsubscribe. So, now I need to vent and get feedback here as I

obviously cannot continue the conversation there.

I know I asked for honesty, but I wasn't prepared to basically be told to be

quiet and stop talking non-sense. Or be told that " obesity will no longer be

a problem if I get rid of the compulsions " through OA. If I could have done

that I would have done that by now!!! I have been overweight and steadily

gaining for YEARS now. I've gained 45 pounds in the past 2 years and that's

while attending both OA and EDA. Maybe I do eat some things that I

shouldn't, but does that mean that I am not " doing things right " ?! Many

skinny people eat more than I do! I've seen it. There are people who can

eat all day long and not gain a pound.

I have been near tears over this. The first few negative remarks this

morning got me a bit upset, but this post from the moderator I just got

really threw me over the edge. I should have known better than to ask for

feedback about WLS from an OA list.

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