Table 3 Summary of questionnaire and open-ended responses in study 2 (n = 66)

Location

 < 10 km away

84

 10 km to 19 km away

11

 > 20 km away

4

Self-reported attendance

 Once per month or less

24

 2 to 3 times per month

3.0

 2 to 3 times per week

67

 4 or more times per week

6.1

Self-reported participation

 I didn’t attend Curves

15

 I dropped out of Curves after trying it

7.6

 I sporadically attended Curves

14.4

 I attended Curves as much as I could

63

Reasons for drop-out

 Poor perception of the program characteristics (e.g., loud music, staff rapport, and ‘gossip’ among members)

44

 Preference for other activities

33

 No physical or mental health benefits attained

12

 Distance to a physical activity program location

11

Involvement in Curves™ (“Agree” and “Highly Agree”)

% reported

 Extent that the program met your needs

76

 Satisfaction with service received

89

 If you were to continue to exercise at a fitness facility, would you choose Curves again?

76

Favorable program characteristics

% reported

 Variety and flexibility of opportunities

29

 Positive social influences (staff, members)

22

 Program and circuit specifics (e.g., duration, intensity, free cost)

22

 Specific women-only focus

11

 Quick physical and mental health outcomes

8

 Proximity and location

7

Barriers to program

% reported

 Lack of interest (e.g., repetitious, boring and limited exercises)

35

 Distance/location and limited hours of operation

23

 Lack of support from staff and negative social atmosphere

13

 Poor music (too loud and genre)

11

 Lack of motivation

6

 Cost to continue

2

 Lack of time

4