The world's leader in women's fitness.
Nearly 10,000 locations.
More than 70 countries.
Strengthening 4 million women.

At 6:15 p.m. on Monday evening--the busiest time of the day for many Curves, including the one in Gaborone, Botswana--His Excellency President Lieutenant General Ian Khama caused a traffic jam on the circuit when he delighted members with a surprise visit. Coming straight from a football match and still dressed in his sweats, he sampled a few of the workout machines and inquired about the members' results.

Research demonstrates a clear link between physical activity and increased cancer survival rates, but just getting to the gym presents a challenge for many people. For women battling breast cancer, the side effects of chemotherapy are just one of many barriers to being physically active. The Cedars Breast Clinic of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montreal is partnering with Curves, the world’s leader in women’s fitness, to tackle this problem head on. From September, every woman diagnosed and treated for breast cancer at the MUHC will receive a free membership to CURVES.

(Pictured: Montreal Curves owners lend a hand at the MUHC Jump for Hope Gala fundraiser in June.)

The probability of a woman being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during her life is about one in eight. And, the probability of dying from breast cancer is about one in 35, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer death rates are going down, the Association says, which is probably a result of finding the cancer earlier and receiving improved treatment.

In August 2009, Curves was honored to fulfill the wish of a beautiful little girl from Omaha, Nebraska. Emily Koesters suffers from stage III lymphoma caused by a rare genetic disorder. Her dream? To fly in a hot air balloon.

(Pictured: Emily, daddy Joe, mother Erin, and the Omaha-area Curves owners who helped make Emily's dream come true.)

More than half of adult U.S. women are overweight and more than one-third of adult U.S. women are obese, according to the American Obesity Association. In fact, obesity plays a major role in the poor health of women, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Such statistics can be alarming, and the increase in obesity is why places, like Curves locations, have educational programs to address weight loss through focused curricula and classes.

Celeste LaBonte's knee gave out one day at home. Her orthopedist told the Blackstone, Mass. mom that the knee damage was caused by her excessive weight.
 

Celeste found that, at 294 pounds, she had to use a seat belt extender on planes and that she had a difficult time going up stairs. But it wasn't until she learned of her husband's upcoming professional award and imagined embarrassment at the ceremony that she decided to make a big change.

(Photo above: Celeste before Curves, at 294 pounds.)

Curves is going head-to-head with competitor Weight Watchers in a new campaign this week that promotes its new 30-day diet plan.

According to Curves' President Mike Raymond, “We think the combination of having some real, competitive advantages when it comes to weight loss and dieting, plus being the gold standard in fitness represents the perfect solution for women to lose weight with.”