The health & wellbeing benefits of swimming

Whether it’s for leisure, pleasure or competition, swimming is a great way to improve your health and wellbeing. These are the key themes from a scientific report commissioned by Swim England on the health and wellbeing benefits of swimming. The evidence from this report is an important landmark and shows that:

• Swimming is one of England’s most popular sports
• Swimming may be associated with a decrease in early death due to cardiovascular disease and any other cause
• Swimming can have a number of health and wellbeing benefits for individuals, patients, communities, the public and the nation
• There is emerging scientific data for the physical and mental health benefits of swimming
• Research on swimming and health benefits is sparse and sporadic. Specific areas of further research need to be developed
• The future now offers opportunities for Swim England to lead on a strategy that engages with and retains the public passion for swimming for health and wellbeing