Should you wait to swim after eating?
It’s so common to tell kids to wait an hour after eating to swim that many of us never question it.
But what are the actual consequences of jumping straight back in the pool after you’ve had your lunch?
Norman and Tegan tackle whether this advice is grounded in evidence, and discuss what you should actually avoid.
References:
Scouting for boys - 1908
The International Lifesaving Federation medical position statement 2014
Effect of food consumption on 200-yard freestyle swim performance
The National Drowning Report 2025
Monday’s medical myth: wait 30 minutes after eating before you swim – the Conversation
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