Is Swimming After Eating Actually Dangerous?

Can you swim right after eating?

Swimming after eating should be fine. That’s the case as long as your body feels comfortable and the swimming is recreational — as in, just for fun. There’s no evidence that swimming after eating poses a health risk. You can feel free to have lunch by the pool and then immediately hop into the water to cool off. This is true for all ages, including both adults and children.

It’s a good idea to wait after eating, though, if you’re aiming to do something more vigorous, such as swimming laps or competing in a swim meet. This is because eating too soon before any intense exercise can cause gastrointestinal upset. However, it’s not dangerous or life-threatening. 

The research on swimming after you eat

In a 1968 study, 24 swimmers were fed a carb-heavy breakfast of cereal, toast, sugar, butter, and whole milk. They were then instructed to wait for varying periods of time before swimming laps. None of the swimmers reported any negative effects, no matter how long they waited to swim after breakfast. 

More recently, a review of research published by the American Red Cross in 2011 found that there was no danger posed by swimming after eating. And in 2013, the International Life Saving Federation also declared that the recommendation to avoid food before swimming was “unfounded,” based on a review of the medical evidence.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Eating before or after a workout: Find out the best time to eat when planning to exercise. 

• Does exercise after eating cause cramps? It can. Find out why you can get cramps after eating and what you can do about it.

• Water safety: Check out these tips on how to keep the whole family safe when swimming.

Where did the idea that you shouldn’t swim after eating come from?

It’s not clear where or when the idea originated, but it has been around for at least a century. In the 1908 British Boy Scout handbook, Scouting for Boys, there was a warning to avoid bathing in deep water “soon after a meal.” The claim was that you’d develop cramps that would cause you to drown. 

In the 1911 Boy Scouts of America handbook, there was a similar warning about swimming too soon after eating. It also mentioned the possibility of developing paralyzing cramps and that it could lead to “disastrous” results.

It’s true that after a big meal, blood flow shifts from your muscles and into your stomach to help with the digestion process. And during exercise, blood flow shifts away from your stomach toward your working muscles and lungs. It seems the fear was that if blood was sent toward your stomach, there wouldn’t be enough left for your muscles. And this would leave them oxygen-deprived — causing you to cramp up and drown. 

But the truth is, there’s enough blood in your body to keep all of your body parts functioning after a big meal.

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What about swimming after drinking?

While there’s little evidence to suggest much risk in swimming after eating, swimming after drinking alcohol is a real danger.

Alcohol use is involved in most water deaths linked to boating and swimming among teens and adults. Alcohol can decrease your coordination, balance, and judgment. And it increases risk-taking behavior. So, alcohol and water activities shouldn’t be mixed. 

What about eating and exercising right after?

Your body needs food as fuel to perform during exercise. But eating the wrong food or eating at the wrong time can affect your body’s ability to function at its best. 

Eating too close to exercise, or eating heavy foods that are hard for the body to digest, could lead to an upset stomach during your workout.

As a rule of thumb, you should wait: 

• 3 to 4 hours to exercise after a large meal

• 1 to 2 hours after a small meal

• 30 to 60 minutes after a light snack 

If you’re having a meal before a workout, the American Heart Association suggests that you:

• Eat complex carbohydrates. Whole grains are a great choice, as are beans and brown rice. 

• Avoid fatty and slowly digested foods. Limit saturated fats, such as those found in butter, cheese, and red meat. Also limit large amounts of protein, as they take awhile for your stomach to digest.

• Drink water. There are no exact rules for how much to drink before you exercise. But a good starting point is: 20 oz of water 3 hours ahead of time — and then 8 oz about 30 minutes before you work out.

If you’re hungry and need to eat something just before your workout, reach for a piece of fruit. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Kate Bratskeir, BA

Kate Bratskeir is a writer and the author of "A Pocket Guide to Sustainable Food Shopping." She primarily covers health, food, and sustainability.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

Reviewed by:

Farzon A. Nahvi, MD

Farzon Nahvi, MD, is an emergency medicine physician and author of “Code Gray: Death, Life, and Uncertainty in the ER.” He works at Concord Hospital in Concord, New Hampshire, and teaches at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

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