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Swimming outside in the winter could help to burn off more calories.
A study has found people who regularly jump into cold water, such as swimming in the sea or lakes, use up more energy when they are chilly, which could help to lose weight.
The calories appear to be burned up because their skin temperature rises more quickly than people who do not go wild swimming.
The evidence comes from a small study of eight men who went winter swimming two or three times a week, before visiting a hot sauna - the Scandinavian version of wild swimming.
They were compared to eight men of a similar age and weight.
Swimming outside in winter helps the body adjust to a colder climate, a study claimed today (stock)
The results show men who swim in freezing water use up the equivalent of around 500 extra calories per 24 hours more on average than other people.
This was measured by wrapping them in cold blankets and measuring their response.
Dr Camilla Scheele, senior author of the study from the University of Copenhagen, said: 'Our results suggest people who swim in cold water train their body to deal differently with colder temperatures.
