If you a guy and you’re looking for longevity you may want to hang up your running shoes and jump into the pool! A recent study published in the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education (2008;2{3} determined from a review of medical and physical activity data of 40,547 men aged 20-90 years that swimming can be the best exercise to enhance longevity.
Adjustments were made for age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol intake, and family history of heart disease. The study authors found that regular swimmers were 49% more likely to out live runners. An all cause mortality risk was 53% lower for swimmers compared to sedentary men and 50% lower than walkers.
According to lead study author Steven Blair, PED, “swimming provides a healthy alternative to traditional modes of exercise for improving cardiovascular fitness for the general population as well as those with chronic disease”.
