Clinical Topics & Methods Category

Overeaters Anonymous

An Overlooked Intervention for Binge Eating Disorder

1 CE Hour
156 members have taken this course
Enroll In This Course

About the Course

This article explores the potential of Overeaters Anonymous (OA), a 12-step mutual-support program, as an intervention for binge eating disorder (BED). The study highlights BED as a chronic condition with high relapse rates and discusses OA’s unique features, including its Nine Tools, Twelve Steps, and Twelve Traditions, which offer structure, social support, and anonymity. OA is accessible without a formal diagnosis or cost, addressing barriers such as stigma and lack of access to care. Despite limited empirical research due to anonymity challenges, qualitative data and case studies suggest OA’s promise in fostering recovery and abstinence. The article calls for further high-quality research to evaluate OA’s efficacy and identify the populations it best serves.

This course is based on the reading online article, Overeaters Anonymous created by Brenna Bray et al in 2021.

Publication Details

Publication Date: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Jul 2021

Course Material Authors

Course Material Authors authored the material only, and were not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Brenna Bray
Dr. Brenna Bray is a researcher at the Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine. She specializes in alternative interventions for eating disorders and public health. This is her first work published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Boris C. Rodríguez-Martín
Dr. Boris C. Rodríguez-Martín is a researcher at Proyecto PlaniFive, Madrid, Spain. His expertise includes mutual-support programs and their applications in behavioral health. This is his first work published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Course Creator

Kathryn Held, Psy.D., CADC III

Kathryn Held, Psy. D associate and CADC III, is an individual therapist at Visions adolescent treatment centers. With a decade of experience in the mental health field, Kathryn specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, OCD, and the OCD spectrum. Kathryn also has expertise in working with LGBTQ+ adolescents while navigating complex family systems. Her current research projects include adolescent suicide and the use of OCD art interventions in anxiety and OCD treatment. She is trained in CBT, ACT and Exposure and Response Prevention. Her empathetic and artistic approach helps support, educate, and instill agency in her clients. Prior to joining the Visions team, Kathryn worked in various treatment settings including detox, sober living, and as the Program Director of a dual diagnosis outpatient treatment center.

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for intermediate and above levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this course, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Understand the principles and practices of Overeaters Anonymous as a potential intervention for binge eating disorder.
  2. 2 Evaluate the benefits and limitations of OA's Twelve Steps, Nine Tools, and anonymous structure in addressing binge eating behaviors.
  3. 3 Identify the barriers to empirical research on OA and propose solutions to evaluate its effectiveness in clinical and community settings.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

Any relevant financial disclosures for course material authors can be found in the article.

Course Creator

Kathryn Held, Psy.D., CADC III – No Disclosures to report

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

$9
Enroll In This Course

Course Details

1 CE Hour
Reading Online
Course 103705

Related Topics

Treatment Eating Disorder Social Network Stigma

Availability

This course is available until Feb 27th, 2035.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, most likely. Look Up Your State Board for more detailed information. Logged-in site members will see the relevant approval information displayed in the Approvals tab for every course.

If you are having trouble using Impact CE, please contact us! We would be happy to accommodate your needs right away, and your input will help us make Impact CE more accessible for future users too.

Use the Enroll In This Course button and just follow the instructions! You don't pay anything until you're ready to take an exam.

To complete the course, review the course objectives, then review the material, and then pass the exam with a score of 75% or greater and lastly complete an evaluation.

Most of our self-paced courses are based on online articles available for free to the public. Some courses, such as those based on books, require that you purchase the material. Use the Materials tab for more info. Live courses simply require that you attend.

Your certificate(s) will be available to download or email immediately when you pass the course exam and complete the evaluation.

Yes! Use the Help widget at the bottom-right of the screen anywhere on Impact CE to search our help docs, or to ask our support team for help. Unlike most of our competitors, Impact CE has live US-based support reps to help you by email, chat, or phone.

Start your CE Journey now - complete your first course today, on us.

Try for free - no commitment required.

Start a Free Trial Course

Continuing Education

Confirm Action