Regular swimming key to happiness: study

Want to feel more content, less grumpy and get a good night's sleep? Swimming could be the answer, says a new study.

Want to feel more content, less grumpy and get a good night's sleep? Swimming could be the answer, says a new study.

The study conducted by members of British Gas SwimBritain, a series of fun team swimming relays that take place across Britain every September, found that taking a regular dip at your local pool can make you feel happier as well as healthier, with participants reporting an increase of 35% in positivity during a four week study.

The results have also shown that the low impact sport is a tonic for everyday life, increasing levels of sleep quality, energy levels and fitness levels during the course of the study, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Just a few laps a week can have an almost immediate effect, with those donning their swimsuits seeing an increase of 20 in their overall levels of well-being after just one week.

"Swimming is obviously close to my heart and it's my goal to help the nation rediscover their love of the water, so this research is really good news for the sport, and something I've always known anyway," said Olympic Swimmer, Becky Adlington.

"The fact that it has significant benefits both in body and mind is a great reason to get back in the pool and that's why I am a big fan of British Gas SwimBritain, a fun relay challenge taking place this summer, which is encouraging as many people as possible to give themselves a swimming goal and see the benefits for themselves," added Adlington.