Losing weight by swimming: how efficient is it?

Can you lose weight by swimming?

Yes, you can definitely lose weight by swimming. Simply put, weight loss happens when you consume fewer calories than you burn. Regular swimming with Lifeguard Recertification Near Me will burn more calories and may ultimately contribute to weight loss. It is of course important that you do not suddenly eat so much more because of the extra effort that you nullify this effort.

Besides the logical fact that swimming burns calories and can contribute to weight loss, there are a few more studies we want to cite to reinforce this story. The results below all show that losing weight through swimming is certainly possible.

Research among people with Down syndrome

A 2020 study examined 45 young adults with Down syndrome. For 36 weeks, a test group did a 50-minute swim workout three times a week. The researchers concluded significant differences in body composition compared to the other test group, who swam recreationally twice a week.

How often should you swim to lose weight?

A 2009 study surveyed 90 people to determine which frequency of continuous exercise provides the best results when it comes to burning fat. The conclusion? At least four times a week for 30 minutes came out on top. Given the low intensity of swimming, this effort itself will not have stimulated fat burning much, but the amount of calories the test subjects burned will ultimately have caused a calorie deficit.

Does this mean that you should go swimming for half an hour four times a week? Basically not. Depending on the possibilities at your pool, there is a good chance that you will pay per block of an hour. Then it would of course be a shame to only use half of it. In addition, it is not feasible for everyone to go four times a week. The best frequency is therefore one that is personally feasible for you. Try starting with, for example, twice a week. Is this feasible? Then expand this to three times or eventually even more with Online Lifeguard Recertification.

Why are there people who do not recommend losing weight by swimming?

It seems that opinions are divided and there are people who would not recommend swimming for weight loss. The reason for this is that the intensity of swimming is often quite low. It is indeed hard to swim for a long time, but you usually do this at a fairly low pace. This ensures that it takes a long time before fat burning is stimulated. If your goal is purely to lose weight and you don't care which sport you want to do for this, then you may be better off choosing another sport. This certainly does not mean that losing weight through swimming is not possible, but only that it is not the most efficient sport if losing weight is your goal.