Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. There are no dues or fees to attend a meeting or to be a member. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively. Meetings are self-supporting through the voluntary contributions of members, so a basket may be passed at in-person gatherings — but giving is always optional, and no one is ever turned away for not contributing.

No. You are welcome to simply listen for as long as you like. Many people spend their first few meetings just observing, and that is completely normal. If you would like to introduce yourself you can, but no one will ever put you on the spot or ask you to say anything you are not ready to say.

Meetings usually run about an hour and follow a familiar, welcoming format. A member typically opens with a reading, and then members take turns sharing their own experience, strength, and hope — what life was like, what changed, and how the program helps them today. Some meetings focus on a book study, some on a topic, and some on a speaker. You do not need to prepare anything or know the format in advance.

You can attend online, by phone, or in person. Find a meeting that fits your schedule.

In broad terms, abstinence means refraining from compulsive eating one day at a time, and a food plan is a general framework some members use to bring structure and honesty to their eating. The specifics are personal and are something members work out with a sponsor over time.

CEA-HOW is not a diet club and takes no position on nutrition, medicine, or particular ways of eating. If you want the official guidance, the World Service Office publishes literature on this — see ceahow.org.

A sponsor is a member who has worked the Steps and agrees to guide you through them, one on one. The usual way to find one is to keep going to meetings and listen for someone whose recovery and experience you relate to, then simply ask them. Most members are glad to be asked, and if a particular person isn't available they will often help you find someone who is. There is no rush — many people take their time before choosing a sponsor.

No. CEA-HOW is a spiritual program, not a religious one, and it is not affiliated with any church, denomination, or sect. The Steps refer to a Higher Power "as you understand it" — members are free to define that for themselves. People of every faith, and people of no particular faith, are equally welcome.

Anonymity is a foundation of the fellowship. Members typically use first names only, and what you see and hear at a meeting is meant to stay there. You are not asked to register, sign anything, or prove who you are, and you never have to give your full name. This is what allows people to speak honestly and feel safe.

No. There is no weight requirement and no diagnosis needed. The fellowship is for anyone who struggles with compulsive eating in any form. If you have tried to control your eating on your own and found you couldn't do it alone, you belong at a meeting — only you can decide whether the program is for you.

HOW stands for Honest, Open-minded, and Willing — the qualities members bring to the program. It describes an approach to recovery built on a structured, disciplined way of working the Twelve Steps with the support of a sponsor and the fellowship.

You can read more on our About Us page.

Just come to a meeting — that's the whole first step. Pick any meeting from our directory that fits your schedule and join online, by phone, or in person. You don't need to prepare anything, bring anything, or commit to anything. Come, listen, and see how it feels.

Find a meeting to get started, or contact us if you have a question first.