Earlier this year, Gatorade launched “Body of Science,” a new initiative dedicated to addressing the lack of research on women’s hydration and nutrition. According to the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI), only 6 percent of existing sports science research focuses on women.
For the inaugural Body of Science study, GSSI measured the hydration and fueling patterns in more than 500 women across various sports. Over four in ten participants arrived at their workouts already dehydrated. During workouts, participants replaced, on average, about 20 percent of sodium electrolyte losses — far below GSSI’s recommended amount of 50 percent. This inadequate sodium replacement can lead to muscle cramping, fatigue, and impaired performance. The majority of participants also under-fueled with carbohydrates during their workouts, with half consuming none at all. Notably, the participants had varied sweat ranges, suggesting hydration guidance should be tailored on an individual basis.
“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 Kimberly Stein, senior principal scientist at GSSI. “Being armed with this data will help us conduct deeper, more targeted research in future ‘Body of Science’ work.”