A series of conversations about weight between three members of Niantic Community Church has led to a program so popular that they had to open up a second session.

“Women, Food and God” is the topic of an eight-week program at the church. Sonya Hoisington, who serves as co-chair of the parish life ministry at the church, said she was speaking with both fellow member Candace Neilson and community minister Patty Chaffee about the issues women face regarding food and weight.

“We just got into a conversation and wondered if there would be interest in the church,” Hoisington said. “We started it thinking we’d kind of mimic one of the other programs that are out there for losing weight, but then it evolved and we wanted it to be not just about weight but about ourselves and God and food and feeling good about ourselves.”

Using Geneen Roth’s “Women, Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything,” a book Hoisington had found in Chaffee’s bookshelf, as a guide, the group is designed to create a nonjudgmental and sacred space for women to share stories about their relationships with food and spirituality. Chaffee said many people use their obsession with food as a way to avoid the overwhelming emotions of daily life, and the program will bring in guest speakers and fun activities to allow participants to let go of their food obsession and enjoy life.

“If we face the reasons why that pain is in our past, we realize that we’re a lot stronger than that,” Neilson said. “I think we want to recognize that we don’t want to postpone life for that moment when we’re the perfect weight, live it fully now.”

Chaffee said there was an overwhelming response to the new program, with 27 women registered; in comparison, other programs offered by the church may attract 10 or 12 people. Some also expressed interest but were unable to make it to the church for 1:30 on Thursday afternoons, so a Wednesday evening program was added.

The decision to continue the program after the end of the eight weeks will largely depend on how it goes, she said, but many ongoing programs at the church started as singular offerings, and they would consider offering the program again.

Niantic Community Church is located at 170 Pennsylvania Ave. in Niantic.

a.hutchinson@theday.com