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Q: Is hoop dancing good exercise?

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A: For novel, outside-the-exercise-box fun, hoop dancing -- the latest incarnation of hula-hooping -- can provide a “good supplemental workout or a great change of pace from your regular routine,” says Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise. “But it shouldn’t be your primary workout.” While hooping, as it’s also called, can strengthen core muscles and help improve balance, it’s still not as effective as a sit-up or yoga class. Nor does it provide a quality cardio workout, “because it’s difficult for the average person to sustain the movement for a long time,” explains Bryant.

But if you’re getting bored with your regular routine and could use an engaging rut buster, or if you’re new to exercise and are looking for a fun way to dip your toes into physical activity, hoop dancing might just fit the bill. To get started, check out the Web sites of Hoopnotica or Canyon Hoops, which offer helpful info, the latest hoops (which are larger and heavier than kiddy hula-hoops) and step-by-step instructional DVDs. Then get set to laugh, sweat and have a great time!

Q: What is "BlackBerry thumb," and how do I avoid it?

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A: With more and more people using tiny hand-held devices to send emails and surf the Internet, health care providers are seeing an increase in what they’ve dubbed “BlackBerry Thumb,” which is “a repetitive stress injury to the tendons that flex and extend the thumb,” explains Kerry Perloff, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente in Denver, Colo.

The root of the problem lies in the minuscule keyboards on these hand-held devices. With a full-sized computer keyboard, you use all 10 fingers. But with tiny PDAs, your thumbs do most of the work. Too much “thumbing” and the tendons can become inflamed, resulting in pain and numbness.

To keep your thumbs healthy and pain-free, remember that thumbs weren’t designed for typing on a PDA. Therefore:

• Keep text responses short No need for a lengthy tome when a simple “yes,” “no” or “okay” will suffice
• Avoid marathon work sessions Take frequent breaks
• Use a full-size keyboard whenever possible If a computer is available, use it!

If you do feel pain, Dr. Perloff recommends icing down the area or taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, like ibuprofen. In more serious cases, your doctor may prescribe a custom-made splint or steroid injection. Most important: Do not try to work through the pain believing it will just go away. That will only make the problem worse!

Q: How terrible is it to skip meals?

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A: While you can probably get away with missing one or two meals a week, you shouldn’t make it a regular habit. Studies have shown that, compared to people who eat three meals regularly, people who skip meals are at increased risk for developing higher insulin and cholesterol levels, metabolic syndrome, a larger waist circumference and lipid (blood fat) disorders -- all of which raise your risk for heart disease and diabetes.

In addition, skipping meals is more likely to thwart, rather than speed up, any effort to lose weight. Your body is pretty smart. It knows when you’re skimping, thanks to a built-in survival mechanism that dates back to the times when our primitive ancestors didn’t have enough to eat. During lean days, weeks and months, the body would essentially shift into hibernation mode, conserving fat stores to help prolong survival. So “when you skip breakfast or nibble on a few lettuce leaves for lunch, your body begins to slow down its metabolism [the rate you burn calories],” explains Amy P. Campbell, a registered dietitian and manager of the clinical education programs at Harvard’s Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. “A few hours later, your brain receives powerful and persistent hunger signals urging you to eat, rather than using your fat stores to fuel itself.” End result? You’ll end up devouring a lot more than you intended by the time dinner rolls around. So try to maintain a regular meal schedule. Says Campbell: “Your body needs fuel for you to feel well and stay healthy, just as your car needs gasoline.”