It is universally-accepted that physical activity is good for your health and reduces mortality rates. Studies that compare mortality rates between swimmers and other common physical activities are rare. The most compelling findings are those of Chase, Sui, & Blair (IJARE, 2008, 2(3), 213-223) that compared 40,517 men 20-90 years who completed health examinations from 1971-2003 as part of the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study administered by the Cooper Institute. After adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol intake, and family history of cardiovascular disease, swimmers had a 50% and 49% lower all-cause morality risk than did men who were walkers or runners.
The above data was shared at the Learn-To-Swim Innovator Meeting in Colorado Springs Colorado on April 25, 2012. This meeting was sponsored by the National Swimming Pool Foundation.