Curves International

Curves was founded by Gary Heavin and his wife, Diane. They opened their first Curves in Harlingen, Texas, in 1992. This new concept of 30-minute fitness, strength training, weight-loss guidance, and an environment designed for women was immediately successful. They began to develop plans for franchising the concept, with the first opening in 1999. Curves once claimed to be the world's largest fitness franchise and was recognized as one of the 10 largest franchise companies in the world in 2005. According to Curves International Inc's fact sheet, Curves achieved 6,000 franchises in 7 years. Curves facilities are located in 39 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Curves is known as FitCurves in Ukraine, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Czech Republic.

In October 2006, Curves was said to have had over 10,000 locations worldwide, with 7,848 of those locations in the United States.

Curves fitness and weight loss facilities are designed specifically for and focused on women. The program is designed around circuit training, which utilizes hydraulic resistance equipment to achieve results. The strength training regimen is combined with cardiovascular training for a full body workout, with each class led by a ‘Curves Coach’. There are four speciality classes, each of which is designed for different fitness levels from low intensity to high intensity, with one of the high intensity classes utilizing traditional boxing moves. All speciality classes emphasize strength-based functional movements.

Curves also provide additional programs alongside their traditional gym workouts. Curves Nutrition and Weight Management Program is a fully integrated, personalized weight loss and weight management program with customizable meal plans and one-on-one coaching support alongside the Curves fitness program. In 2020, Curves also expanded their service offering to include their Health and Wellness education series, providing members with educational courses across women’s health issues to help make lifestyle improvements.

In 2002, the Exercise & Sports Nutrition Laboratory at Baylor University began researching the efficacy of the Curves fitness and weight loss program. Curves awarded the ESNL a $5 million, five-year grant to start the Curves Women's Health Initiative.

In 2008 this grant funding moved with Dr. Richard Kreider to Texas A&M University.

Buyout-related lawsuit

In 2005, six plaintiffs brought a suit against Curves, Gary Heavin, and Roger Schmidt (the company's attorney) for $20 million. The plaintiffs claimed that Heavin cheated them out of their share of profits by him and Roger Schmidt pressuring them to sign a buyout contract allotting them a fraction of what they might have earned.

Most of the plaintiffs were hired as independent sales reps after Curves had already opened hundreds of locations. The lawsuit failed to mention that the sales reps were paid more than $26 million for their work.