The Curves Program

A recent reader comment asked about the Curves program and the research to support it's efficacy and it's efficacy over time. The sagacious reader had already done preliminary research and pointed me in the right direction. Interestingly, my sister and her friend are big fans of Curves and I have attended with them on one or two occasions. This allows me some insight. In case you are unfamiliar with the fitness center, let me give a few facts.

It is a worldwide franchise gym that is almost exclusively marketed towards women. It is owned by a couple, Gary and Diane Heavin, but the franchises are independently owned. The company started in 1992. There are over 10,000 clubs in 73 different countries. The gym is set up so that the participants do a circuit of weight training while doing some type of cardio movement in between machines. (jog in place, jumping jacks, march) The machines are based on resistance and do not have adjustable weight amounts. The workout should take 30 minutes.

Is there research to support its efficacy or outcomes? Is it a successful program? It depends on what you are asking specifically. The owners have commissioned research and there are completed, ongoing and future studies. The research began at Baylor University and is now taking place through Texas A&M. Curves is funding the stuides. With 10,000 clubs you'd expect large sample sizes in the research and in some cases that is true, and in others the numbers are ridiculously small. Almost all the studies are about weight loss, not fitness.

What is right about Curves is that it targets and indeed affects the overweight or obese sedentary woman. There is little intimidation, little discomfort and a lot of camaraderie in the clubs. The question that I need to have answered is what it does for the more fit person and that is one of the ongoing studies - at least they are looking into energy expenditure of fit women during the workout, but past research will tell you, people not used to doing something will burn more calories doing it than the person who is used to doing it. The body adapts and then conserves energy. It is meant to.

There IS positive research about the Curves program in regards to weight loss, but ONLY when the people in the study are also reducing caloric intake. There is also evidence to support that the weight loss is maintained for as much as a year, IF the calories continue to be controlled and the exercise frequency continues.

There is not research available to answer what I feel is the most important question. Does the program challenge the muscles enough to build them, increase strength, prevent bone loss and improve functional fitness. One study that addressed bone loss only said that women who took calcium seemed to have more dense bones. Well yes.

I think that Curves is a phenomenal program and that it does indeed help millions of women. Some of my recent blog posts have addressed middle age plateaus and having to switch things up to see continued progress in physical fitness. I believe it was in that context that my reader asked about Curves and so, NO this program would not be enough if those were your challenges or aspirations. Curves can produce weight loss if coupled with a calorie deficit, but so do other exercise programs.

The Curves circuit is clinically proven to increase heart rate and thus would challenge and condition the heart, at least for a while. Most of the studies on Curves are ten weeks long, though long term studies are in place. Curves certainly has the potential to build ones self esteem and to keep them engaged in society - as it targets older women, this is a good thing.

For optimal health and fitness, Curves would be a first place to go on a journey that requires more effort over time.