Anonymity is the principle behind the Overeaters Anonymous program and one that I take to heart in all aspects of my program. It means that no matter who I talk to, I protect names and business of other OA members. It means that I can expect that what I say at a meeting or to another OA member (since two or more members constitute an OA meeting) will not be shared with another member. At the same time, I am allowed to break my own anonymity at home, school, work, church and in the community as long as it doesn’t potentially break someone else’s anonymity. 

Someone might ask why this is important to me? There are some obvious reasons in that my history with food is very personal. My weight may cause people to think a certain thing about me and about how I eat. It will not tell them the entire story. I want to make the decision when and with whom I want to share that. If I am willing and able to share that history with another person, I may not want to share it with a group of other people. I may not even be able to share it with my closest friends because others may not understand that history.

Addictions in general carry a stereotype in and of themselves. Alcohol and other substance addictions are understood by most people. If someone says, “I don’t drink,” it is understood. However, if someone says, “I can’t have sugar,” or “I can’t eat that crunchy, salty snack because I will want the entire bowl,” unless they have the same issue, people tend to laugh it off. So, it is much easier to share with someone of a like mind. I want to be able to know that someone is of like mind before I share that I am a compulsive eater.