Last Updated:
January 30th, 2026
Grey Sheeters Anonymous
GreySheeters Anonymous is a specialised fellowship group for those with eating disorders, food addiction, or other issues around food. The Grey Sheeters (GSA) fellowship programme combines the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a specific food plan developed for compulsive or disordered eaters. GSA grew out of a small group of meetings in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the 1970s, where members of Overeaters Anonymous committed to following what became known as the GreySheeters Anonymous food plan. The fellowship became independent in 1998 and now holds meetings worldwide, including across the UK, both in person and by phone or video.
What are compulsive eating and eating disorders?
Compulsive eating means being unable to control what, when, or how much you eat, despite wanting to stop. This can mean binge eating, grazing throughout the day, eating in secret, or using food to cope with emotions. The behaviour overlaps with clinical eating disorders like binge eating disorder and bulimia, though GSA doesn’t require a diagnosis for membership.
Many compulsive eaters have tried diets, willpower, and promises to themselves, but sadly failed repeatedly. However, GSA understands that compulsive and disordered eating are real illnesses, similar to addictions, and require ongoing support.
Why does GreySheeters Anonymous support matter?
Compulsive eating and eating disorders cause serious harm to physical and mental health. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, malnutrition, organ failure, infertility, and joint problems are all physical consequences. The shame and secrecy around eating often lead to depression and anxiety, and many problem eaters isolate themselves to hide their behaviour.
Treatment through behavioural rehab addresses the problem intensively, but it lasts weeks, and may not provide the long-term support that is needed. NHS eating disorder services often have long waiting lists, and many people don’t meet the criteria for specialist treatment despite struggling severely with food. GSA offers a community of people who have been through the same fight with food, available for as long as recovery takes.
What do GSA meetings offer?
GSA meetings provide structure, accountability, and connection with others in recovery from compulsive eating and eating disorders. Two elements sit at the heart of GSA: the 12 steps and the GreySheeters Anonymous food plan. The steps address the emotional and spiritual side, like the reasons behind the symptoms, and the damage unhealthy eating has caused. The food plan addresses the physical side, including what you eat, how much, and when.
Sponsorship is central to GSA. Every member works with a sponsor who has maintained abstinence on the GreySheet and guides them through both the food plan and the steps. In GSA, the food plan is passed down orally from sponsor to sponsee, so you will receive a copy of the GreySheet, and your sponsor will explain how to follow it.
What GSA meeting formats are available?
GSA meetings are available in multiple formats, making GSA accessible wherever you are, and providing support to members in different situations and recovery phases:
What happens in a GSA meeting?
A typical meeting starts with the Serenity Prayer and readings that explain what GSA is about, and then members introduce themselves by first name. The main part of the meeting is members talking about their recovery, including their history with food, how the GreySheet has changed things, what is difficult right now, and what they hope for the future.
Each person speaks without interruption, and nobody responds directly to what’s been shared. Meetings usually last an hour, but after the formal close, people tend to hang around for a chat. This is usually when newcomers connect with longer-term members and begin conversations about sponsorship.
Who can benefit from GSA?
GSA welcomes anyone who identifies as a compulsive or disordered eater and is willing to commit to the GreySheet food plan. Members include people who binge eat, people who graze constantly, people who restrict and then overeat, and people whose weight has fluctuated dramatically over many years of dieting.
Some members also have histories of anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, while others have never received a formal eating disorder diagnosis but know their relationship with food is broken. No medical diagnosis is required, but if food dominates your thoughts and your attempts to control it have failed, GSA may be what you need.
GSA is also for people who have tried other approaches, including other eating disorder fellowships, diets, or professional treatment without lasting success. The structure of the GreySheet appeals to people who need clear boundaries rather than flexibility around food.
How to find a GSA meeting near you
GSA lists meetings on greysheet.org, including phone and video meetings that run throughout the day and night. Because GSA is an international fellowship with members across time zones, you can usually find a meeting at most hours, regardless of when you’re looking.
If you’re new, the website explains how to connect with a member who can answer questions and help you find a sponsor.
Recovery.org.uk can also help you find local support options for compulsive eating and other forms of behavioural addiction. For help working out what’s right for you, get in touch with our team through our contact us page.