About OA Sponsors

What is a sponsor and how do I find one?

Sponsors are OA members committed to abstinence and to living the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions to the best of their ability. Sponsors share their program up to the level of their experience and strengthen their recovery through this service to others. To find a sponsor, attend a variety of meetings to talk and listen to other compulsive eaters, and speak to as many people as you can asking how they are achieving their recovery. The more members you speak with gives you a better understanding of how each of us work our programs.


What to look for in a sponsor?

The OA program of recovery is threefold - spiritual, emotional, and physical. Find a sponsor that has had a spiritual experience and continues to improve their connection to their chosen Higher Power. You’re encouraged to find a sponsor that has and is working towards the emotional recovery that you want to achieve for yourself; someone that has accepted their powerlessness and is living a life in God’s will so they can better bring you towards the same. Finally, and perhaps what most folks come to OA for, before realizing there is so much more to benefit from, is physical recovery. It is not required to find a sponsor that has the exact same physical stature, weight loss, or maintenance as you have or wish to have; any sponsor with great recovery can help guide you through this program with great success. It may be helpful to consider a sponsor that has direct experience with your specific weight and body type struggles and goals, ie. 100 pounder, anorexic, bulimic, etc.

To receive a copy of the Central Ontario Intergroup list of available sponsors, just email outreach@oaontario.org and request the list.