Forum

Exciting News for our Industry: New Study Reveals Swimming Can Cut Men's Risk of Dying in Half

Posted by Laurie Batter on February 2, 2009 at 12:06pm in Business Growth, Expansion, and Current Opportunit
NSPF just released the results of this exciting research study that all of us can incorporate into our sales and marketing.Feb 2, 2009 10:37 ETNew Study Reveals Swimming Can Cut Men's Risk of Dying in HalfResearch shows swimming may be the prescription for longevityCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study shows that swimming cuts men's risk of dying by about 50% compared to runners, walkers and sedentary peers. The University of South Carolina study led by Dr. Steven Blair evaluated comprehensive physical exams and behavioral surveys from thousands of people who were enrolled in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS) over the last 32 years. The results were presented at the 2008 World Aquatic Health(TM) Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and have been published in the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education."Swimmers had the lowest death rate," explains Blair. He adds that the study takes into account age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol intake, hypertension, other medical factors and family history. "This is the first report that examined mortality rates among swimmers in comparison with other types of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle. We conclude that men who swim for exercise have better survival rates than their sedentary peers," he summarizes.The ACLS includes extensive medical and physical activity data on more than 40,000 men, age 20-90 years. "These lower rates in swimmers compared with walkers and sedentary men might well be expected," comments Dr. Blair, "but it is surprising that we also observed lower mortality in swimmers than in runners," he adds. "Therefore, swimming appears to be a healthful alternative to other types of physical activity." The study population was limited to white, well-educated, middle- to upper-class men. While this limits the generalizability of the study, it should not affect the study's internal validity, advises Blair. He explains that, "there is no compelling reason to assume that the benefits of swimming would be different for women or for men in other socioeconomic groups. In an earlier study in this same population we found that both women and men had similar benefits from swimming in terms of fitness and other health indicators."Dr. Blair also found that regular swimmers had a higher cardiorespiratory fitness than walkers and sedentary people. He concludes that, "Swimming provides a healthful alternative to traditional modes of exercise for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and health for the general population, as well as for patients suffering from chronic diseases. Swimming may be a good alternative exercise for individuals who cannot participate in running or other forms of physical activity." Future research will compare injury information between swimming and other forms of physical activity.Founded in 1965, National Swimming Pool Foundation(R) (NSPF(R)), which helped fund this research, is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving public health worldwide by encouraging healthier living through aquatic education and research. NSPF is the leading educator of aquatic facility operators and the chief philanthropic research sponsor in the aquatics field. For additional information, visit www.nspf.org.For more information about the Swimming Longitudinal Study or to schedule an interview with Dr. Steven Blair, P.E.D. or Thomas M. Lachocki, Ph.D., CEO of the NSPF, please contact Laurie Batter of BatterUp! Productions, batterup@batterupproductions.com or 760-438-9304.Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.Steven N. BlairLaurie BatterThomas Lachocki, Ph.DSource: National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF)CONTACT: Laurie Batter of BatterUp! Productions, +1-760-438-9304,batterup@batterupproductions.com, for National Swimming Pool Foundation(NSPF)Web Site: http://www.nspf.org/

You need to be a member of Pool Genius Network™ to add comments!

Join Pool Genius Network™

Tags: benefits, health, swimming
Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Laurie Batter February 4, 2009 at 9:58am
    Justin,

    Thank you for your positive comments. I agree - anyone who is selling pools should have this press release included in their presentation information, on their websites, and more.

    Laurie
  • Justin Gregoli February 4, 2009 at 9:03am
    Laurie,
    This is exciting stuff! I hope we all can use this type of information to better educate the consumer "on the fence" to dive in.
    Keep it coming.
    Justin
This reply was deleted.

Pool/Spa Articles