From AABB, Forward To Second Edition, p xv

"Since the original Forward to this book was written in 1939, a wholesale miracle has taken place. Our earliest printing voiced the hope 'that every alcoholic who journeys will find the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous at his destination. Already,' continues the early text, 'twos and threes and fives of us have sprung up in other communities."

"Sixteen years have elapsed between our first printing of this book and the presentation in 1955 of our second edition. In that brief space, Alcoholics Anonymous has mushroomed into nearly 6,000 groups whose membership is far above 150,000 recovered alcoholics. Groups are to be found in each of the united States and all of the provinces of Canada. AA has flourishing communities in the British isles, the Scandinavian countries, South Africa, South America, mexico, Alaska, Australia and hawaii. All told, promising beginnings have been made in some 50 foreign countries and US possessions. Some are just now taking shape in Asia. Many of our friends encourage us by saying that this is but a beginning, only the augury of a much larger future ahead."

OA now has approximately 8,500 meeting groups in over 50 countries throughout the world. We are composed of men and women of all ages. A 1992 Gallup survey found that 86% of OA members are women, most who began eating compulsively at age 14. The average member has been in OA for over 4 years and attend 8 meetings a month. They came to the program being, on the average, 68 lbs overweight and have lost 41 lbs. Of those who have reached a comfortable weight, 30% have kept the weight off for 4 years.

The reasons given for attending the first meeting was to lose weight (32%) and to quit eating compulsively (20%). The reasons given for continued meeting attendance was quite varied, with acceptance, support, weight loss, hope, and understanding/caring/loving people being the most frequent answer. The survey participants credit OA with improving their lives in the following areas: