Hula hooping, the latest trend in exercise

Skaneateles (WSYR-TV) -- Did you have a hula hoop as a kid? Well, they’re back as the hottest trend in exercise. Women young and old are getting in shape with the toy Wham-O made famous back in the 1950s.

When’s the last time you looked around an exercise class and everyone was was smiling? The initial appeal of hula hooping is that it’s fun. The value is that it works. Ladies in Skaneateles are burning as many calories per minute as step aerobics, boot camp or jogging.

Exercise researchers actually did a study on hula hooping and were surprised at how it got the heart rate up and burned fat just as much as high impact workouts – and it works your whole body. Your arms, legs and the all important core get a workout from hula hooping.