Researchers found that cold water swimming can be beneficial for women’s health, improving physical and mental symptoms linked to menopause and improving menstrual symptoms.
But boffins at the University of Sussex and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust said the growing hobby needs to receive better support to help improve water quality in order to make it accessible and safe.
Professor Sasha Roseneil, from the University of Sussex, said: “In recent years cold water swimming has become a passion for many thousands of women across the UK, bringing numerous benefits to wellbeing.
“Whilst the free and unregulated nature of swimming in open water is part of its attraction, it is time for the government and regulators to pay serious attention to the quality of our rivers, lakes and seas, to protect both swimmers today, and the ecosystems of these precious natural resources for the future.”
According to the research published today, 64 per cent of women aged 16 to 80 who wild swim do so in the sea and nearly nine in ten swim all year round.
But the team warned that there are risks that can be exacerbated by the swimming environment, including the increased likelihood of gastroenteritis and other infections due to pollution in UK waters.
Designated bathing waters in the UK are typically monitored during the summer months – from May to September – although many do not meet the prescribed standards and researchers believe this may be worse for undesignated sites.
Co-author Dr Mark Harper, from the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Exercising in nature, with a community, is a combination that should be encouraged. However, it is currently not well supported.
“For example, in the UK, the Government bathing-water quality website only runs from May to September, ignoring the winter months where heavy rainfall and consequent sewage overflow most commonly occur.
“Globally we should be ensuring that cold water swimming is accessible and safe.”
The researchers are calling for the UK Government, water companies, the Environment Agency, and others across the world, to improve the safety and accessibility of open water for people who like to swim outdoors.
The research, published in Women’s Health, was carried out in collaboration with researchers from the University of Portsmouth, University of Sussex, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, University of Plymouth and Bournemouth University.
The Environment Department (Defra) was contacted for comment.
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