Cold Facts About Swimming to Slim

Swimming is a good all-round exercise, and the support of the water reduces impact on joints. But exercise in cold water may not be ideal if you’re trying to lose weight.

Researchers at the University of Florida asked subjects to exercise  on a static bike underwater for 45 minutes, first in water at 20C, then in water at 33C. They also spent 45 minutes resting. After each session, they spent an hour in a room full of food, without being told their kilojoule intake would be monitored.

After exercising in cold water, the subjects ate 44% more kilojoules than after the warm-water exercise, and 41% more than after just resting. It seems that body temperature affects post-exercise appetite, which may explain a previous study that found that women who swam lost less weight than those who ran or cycled.