Why 1 in 3 haven’t been sw imming for a decade

Going for a dip at the local pool is a weekly highlight for many families across the country.

But a study claims that 30 per cent of adults haven’t braved the water for more than a decade.

The survey of 2,000 adults also found that 20 per cent simply don’t have the time, 13 per cent said they prefer to exercise in other ways and just under 15 per cent think public pools are too expensive.

other reasons for not swimming regularly include not wanting to use public changing rooms, feeling too self-conscious and not feeling confident in the water. in fact, 3 per cent of adults said they have never been swimming in a public pool in their entire lives.

The study was commissioned by seafood company John West as part of its Get Yourself Shipshape campaign, which aims to encourage people to make ‘little and often’ changes towards healthy, active lifestyles.

it also emerged that 20 per cent of adults cannot swim. Some 20 per cent of non-swimmers said it’s too late for them to learn and 45 per cent said they regret not picking it up at a younger age.

olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who is supporting the campaign, said: ‘it’s really surprising how many people in the country are unable to swim, even though people are aware of the many benefits. it’s easy to forget swimming doesn’t come naturally to many people. Even though it’s widely recognised as a fantastic way to get in shape, learning to swim in later years can be really daunting.

‘But getting in the water and persevering can see great results, not only in learning how to swim but also getting fit and healthy at the same time.’

The study also found that 52 per cent are confused about what constitutes a healthy diet and more than 30 per cent are unsure of the best way to lead an active lifestyle.

Jon Burton, marketing director at John West, added: ‘When trying to work out a balanced lifestyle, most people know there are two main points to consider – how much exercise you do, and the diet you put into your body. People are still confused about how to live a healthy, active lifestyle – and swimming is a great place to start.’

‘Public pools are too expensive’