Gatorade's First "Body of Science" Study Reveals Disparities in Women's Hydration & Nutrition Patterns

Rhea-AI Summary

Gatorade (PepsiCo, NASDAQ: PEP) released findings from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute’s first “Body of Science” study focused on women’s hydration and fueling. The research evaluated more than 500 women across sports including basketball, soccer and ice hockey, and will be presented at the American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting on July 26.

Key outcomes show 43% of participants arrived at workouts dehydrated, 57% under-fueled with carbohydrates (with half consuming none), and women replaced only about 20% of sodium lost during activity versus GSSI’s 50% replacement guideline. GSSI also defined new sweat-rate categories for women and is expanding research across premenopause, perimenopause and menopause. Women nationwide can join ongoing studies via the GSSI Labs app and earn Gatorade.com gift card rewards, while insights are already informing Gatorade’s personalized hydration guidance for female athletes.

News Market Reaction – PEP

-0.34%

-0.34% Session close to close

In the Jul 21 session, PEP declined 0.34%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

PEP's current short-interest context showed low short positioning. The study documents hydration and...

Analysis

PEP's current short-interest context showed low short positioning. The study documents hydration and fueling gaps, while its research-stage status is a risk; future disclosures on application and expanded life-stage research warrant attention.

Key Figures

Women-focused research share: 6% Study participants: more than 500 women Pre-workout dehydration: 43% +4 more

7 metrics

Women-focused research share 6% sports science research focused exclusively on women

Study participants more than 500 women Body of Science hydration and fueling study

Pre-workout dehydration 43% participants arrived at workouts already dehydrated

Inadequate carbohydrate intake 57% participants under-fueled with carbohydrates during workouts

Sodium loss replacement 20% vs. 50% average replacement versus GSSI recommendation during activity

Carbohydrate recommendation 30-60 grams per hour GSSI recommendation during active occasions

Presentation date July 26 American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jul 15 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Jul 15	player awards	Positive	+3.0%	Gatorade named its 2025-26 Best Male and Female Players of the Year
Jul 01	agriculture progress	Positive	+4.3%	PepsiCo reported progress toward its 2030 Positive Agriculture goals
May 28	farmer program launch	Positive	-0.4%	PepsiCo Foundation and EIT Food launched a European farmer-support program
Jun 04	earnings timing notice	Neutral	-0.3%	PepsiCo announced the release date and webcast schedule for second-quarter results
May 28	farmer program launch	Positive	-1.0%	PepsiCo and EIT Food introduced Future Harvest across five European countries

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive corporate or brand announcements produced mixed reactions: two aligned with positive 24-hour changes, while three diverged.

Key Terms

premenopause, perimenopause, menopause

3 terms

premenopause medical

"Current research expands into life stages, including premenopause, perimenopause, and menopause."

Premenopause describes the stage in a person's reproductive life before the final menstrual period, when menstrual cycles are still occurring and ovarian function is generally active. It matters to investors because treatments, diagnostics, workplace policies, and demand for health and consumer products can differ for premenopausal versus menopausal populations, so knowing the size and needs of this group is like mapping customer segments for product development and regulatory planning.

perimenopause medical

"Current research expands into life stages, including premenopause, perimenopause, and menopause."

The phase leading up to menopause when a person’s hormone levels and menstrual cycles change, causing symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood shifts and irregular periods. Investors track perimenopause because it drives demand for medical treatments, over-the-counter products, workplace accommodations and health services—think of it like a market-shaping shift in customer needs and labor productivity as a population moves from one long-term life stage to another.

menopause medical

"Current research expands into life stages, including premenopause, perimenopause, and menopause."

Menopause is the natural stage in a person’s life when menstrual periods stop permanently because the ovaries reduce production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone; it is typically diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a period. Investors care because menopause drives demand for medical treatments, diagnostic services, over‑the‑counter products and workplace accommodations, similar to a market shift when a large customer group changes its needs, affecting revenue and product strategies across health, consumer and employer sectors.

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The Science of Her Sweat: Gatorade Sports Science Institute's (GSSI) new research shows women need more tailored hydration and nutrition guidance

Key Takeaways:

• Only about 6% of sports science research focuses exclusively on women¹, leaving a critical gap in hydration and nutrition guidance for female athletes.
• "Body of Science's" first study² measures hydration and fueling patterns in more than 500 women across basketball, soccer, and ice hockey, among other activities. Current research expands into life stages, including premenopause, perimenopause, and menopause. Study findings include:
  • Nearly half (43%) of participants showed up to workouts already dehydrated.
  • Over half (57%) didn't consume adequate carbohydrates during exercise, with exactly half consuming zero.
  • Participants replaced only 20% of their sodium electrolyte losses during practice, versus the recommended 50% (GSSI).
• While women, on average, have lower sweat rates than men, the research found wide variation among women, reinforcing the need for personalized hydration guidance.
• "Body of Science" insights are already being used in real life situations to improve personalized hydration guidance for female athletes, while ongoing research and the GSSI Labs app will help shape future solutions for all women.
• Women across the U.S. can participate in ongoing research via the GSSI Labs app and earn points-based gift card rewards on Gatorade.com.

CHICAGO, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This weekend, the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI), Gatorade's research arm with four decades of experience in hydration, nutrition, and human performance, is presenting the findings from its first "Body of Science" study². The first Gatorade "Body of Science" study found that nearly half (43%) of women arrive at workouts already dehydrated. This is one of several disparities in how women hydrate and fuel their bodies. "Body of Science" is part of Gatorade's multi-year, global commitment to help close the gap in women's hydration science research. The findings will be presented at the American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting on July 26.

Hundreds of women across sports and activities, including basketball, soccer and ice hockey, among others, participated in the study, which examined how female bodies sweat and how hydrated women are before exercise. It also assessed how well women meet fueling recommendations – topics that have historically been understudied. To help close that gap, GSSI established new, more precise categories for female sweat rates, providing a benchmark for future research. Current research underway expands into life stages, including premenopause, perimenopause, and menopause.

Establishing the Scientific Foundation of "Body of Science"
For decades, women have fueled their bodies based on science research conducted on men. The first "Body of Science" study reveals where that gap shows up in practice. Key findings being presented to the scientific audience include:

• Nearly half (43%) of participants arrived at workouts already dehydrated, indicating a hydration deficit even before exercise.
• Despite drinking adequate fluid, participants replaced only ~20% of sodium electrolyte losses on average during activity. GSSI recommends replacing close to 50% of the sodium lost.
  • Basketball athletes experienced the highest sodium losses of any sport measured. Inadequate sodium replacement can lead to muscle cramping, fatigue, and impaired performance.
• 57% of participants under-fueled with carbohydrates during workouts, and half consumed none at all. GSSI recommends 30-60 grams of carbohydrates per hour to support performance and energy during active occasions.
• While women, on average, have lower sweat rates than men, the research found significant differences from one woman to another, reinforcing that hydration guidance should be tailored to the individual rather than based on broad assumptions.

Insights from the "Body of Science" research are already being applied in real life situations to improve how Gatorade evaluates and personalizes hydration guidance for female athletes. Ongoing studies and the GSSI Labs app will continue uncovering unmet needs to help shape future hydration solutions for women.

GSSI is a cornerstone of Gatorade and for more than four decades, the institute has conducted hydration and nutrition research on thousands of athletes. The team of scientists at GSSI have authored hundreds of peer-reviewed studies and powered Gatorade product innovation across the portfolio, and the work continues with "Body of Science."

"The data from our first 'Body of Science' study is clear – these aren't small gaps between what women's bodies need and how they're fueling. They're the difference between feeling your best and unknowingly falling short," said Dr. Kimberly Stein, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. "Being armed with this data will help us conduct deeper, more targeted research in future 'Body of Science' work."

Expanding "Body of Science" Across Life Stages
GSSI's research is expanding to study women across life stages, including premenopause, perimenopause and menopause. More than 500 women have already joined this early research.

Women of all activity levels can join ongoing research through the GSSI Labs app. The app's "Female Athlete Hydration Survey" invites women across the U.S. to help close longstanding research gaps. Participation earns points-based gift card rewards redeemable on Gatorade.com.

Gatorade WNBA All-Star Activation
Throughout AT&T WNBA All-Star in Chicago, Gatorade is building on its 30-year history as a founding partner of the WNBA. During WNBA All-Star Week programming, Gatorade will co-host the WNBA Line 'Em Up community activation at Robichaux Park on Chicago's South Side. Additionally, the brand will host a panel at the Chicago Sky Media & Innovation Summit, which will also bring together athletes, scientists and executives, in partnership with Gatorade. The panel will explore how women's sports are driving a new era of athlete care, from hydration strategies to injury prevention and recovery to menstrual health, pregnancy and long-term wellness. Additional grassroots efforts, including Hoopbus community programming, will take place throughout Chicago.

"Understanding what female bodies need for hydration and nutrition to perform their best on the court shouldn't be a luxury, and Gatorade is putting in the work to make sure it's not," said 8× WNBA All-Star, A'ja Wilson.

To date, Gatorade's "Body of Science" research has been conducted without any WNBA player participation. For more information, visit www.gatorade.com/body-of-science.

¹ Source: Cowley, E. S., Olenick, A. A., McNulty, K. L., & Ross, E. Z. (2021). "Invisible Sportswomen": The Sex Data Gap in Sport and Exercise Science Research. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 29(2), 146-151.
² Research is being presented at the American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting on July 26.

The information presented is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, health, nutrition, or dietary advice. The content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual hydration, nutrition, and health needs vary. Individuals should consult with a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making changes to their diet, supplementation, hydration practices, or exercise routines.

About The Gatorade Portfolio
The Gatorade Portfolio, a division of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), is a connected performance and wellness ecosystem built to fuel all athletes and exercisers. Bringing together Gatorade, Propel, Evolve and Muscle Milk, the Gatorade Portfolio is the most complete offering in the category today, with a broad range of personalized solutions at every stage of a person's journey. This integrated system of brands is built on Gatorade's 61-year history of studying athletes and is fueling the future of performance and wellness by delivering solutions across hydration, protein, energy and all-day nutrition to fuel consumers, no matter how or why they sweat. For more information and a full list of product offerings, please visit www.gatorade.com.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $94 billion in net revenue in 2025, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and drinks, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that places sustainability at the center of our business strategy, seeking to drive growth and build a stronger, more resilient future for PepsiCo and the communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

Contact: Maya Savino, maya.savino@omc.com

 

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SOURCE The Gatorade Company

FAQ

What did Gatorade’s first Body of Science study reveal about women’s hydration, and how is it relevant to PepsiCo (PEP) investors?

The study found 43% of women arrived at workouts dehydrated and most under-replaced sodium and carbohydrates. According to Gatorade, these insights guide more targeted product and guidance development, potentially strengthening the brand’s position in performance hydration within PepsiCo’s broader beverage portfolio.

How many women participated in Gatorade’s Body of Science research highlighted by PepsiCo (PEP) on July 21, 2026?

More than 500 women participated in the initial Body of Science research across multiple sports and activity types. According to Gatorade, this sample helped establish new sweat-rate categories for women and highlighted hydration and fueling gaps that can inform future product and guidance innovations.

What specific hydration and nutrition gaps did Gatorade identify for women in the Body of Science study linked to PepsiCo (PEP)?

The study reported 43% arrived dehydrated, 57% under-fueled with carbohydrates, and only about 20% of sodium losses were replaced. According to GSSI, these findings highlight mismatches between needs and current practices, supporting more personalized hydration and fueling strategies for female athletes.

How can women participate in Gatorade’s ongoing Body of Science research associated with PepsiCo (PEP)?

Women across the U.S. can join research via the GSSI Labs app and complete the Female Athlete Hydration Survey. According to Gatorade, participants help close data gaps and earn points-based gift card rewards redeemable on Gatorade.com, supporting continued consumer engagement and data collection.

Does Gatorade’s Body of Science women’s hydration study involve WNBA players, and what is PepsiCo (PEP) doing around WNBA All-Star?

Gatorade states that Body of Science research to date has not included WNBA players. According to Gatorade, during AT&T WNBA All-Star in Chicago, the brand is running community activations and panels on women’s sports, athlete care and long-term wellness in partnership with league stakeholders.

How does the Gatorade Sports Science Institute support product innovation within PepsiCo’s (PEP) Gatorade portfolio?

GSSI has conducted hydration and nutrition research on thousands of athletes over four decades and authored many peer-reviewed studies. According to Gatorade, Body of Science insights are already being used to refine how it evaluates and personalizes hydration guidance, informing innovation across its performance portfolio.

What role does PepsiCo’s (PEP) broader performance portfolio play alongside Gatorade’s Body of Science initiative?

PepsiCo’s Gatorade portfolio includes Gatorade, Propel, Evolve and Muscle Milk, forming a connected performance and wellness ecosystem. According to PepsiCo, the Body of Science work enhances the scientific foundation supporting these brands, especially in hydration, energy and all-day nutrition for athletes and exercisers.