PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A health-centric Facebook group created more than a decade ago by a local woman has now attracted thousands of followers. Its founder explained to KYW Newsradio how what began as a weight loss support group has evolved into so much more.
"Steps To Good Health" is a Facebook group created by Sewell, New Jersey resident Peg Bradford.
"It's a positive group where you could go 24/7 and be yourself, and no one will ever judge you," she said.
Bradford started the group in 2011 when she was looking for support after losing 75 pounds through diet and exercise.
"I started the group because I was in menopause and I had a lot of struggles with losing weight," she recalled. "I know Facebook is a great tool to be able to reach out to people."
This is the time of year, she admitted, when lots of people tend to find her page.
"It's the new year, the new goals, and then people step off, but the one thing that I always tell people to get them to stay - it has to be small, realistic goals and you have to be able to live your life," Bradford said.
Through the years, she said she has been genuinely touched by how supportive members of her group have been to each other.
"I love that," she shared. "There have been times I've just sat at my computer and cried, just seeing the beautiful comments."
Bradford said she strives hard to keep it positive and said sometimes, the online support turns into offline friendships.
"I've actually had people say to me, 'I've made friends from your group. I connected to somebody and now we're friends,' and to me, that's wonderful," she said.
"It's allowed me to reach people not only in the country, I have people in my group from around the world."
What began as a weight loss support group, according to Bradford, has evolved into a general support group about health.
"You know, talking about weight loss and stuff, other things come up and other issues in someone's life, God forbid, cancer and breast cancer," she said. "That's come up and that's actually created another bit of support."
