Gatorade has unveiled “Body of Science,” a multi-year global research commitment to advance the science of women’s hydration and nutrition. The work will be led by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI), the brand’s research arm with four decades of expertise in human performance. GSSI will study women’s needs across life stages and critical moments, including the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and perimenopause, and 500 women have already participated in early research. The work will help assist the 65 million women who report feeling that dehydration impacts their overall health, mood, focus, and energy.²
In a world obsessed with women’s bodies, we know surprisingly little about them. Only 6% of global sports science research focuses exclusively on women¹. That critical knowledge gap leaves women without science-backed answers about what their bodies actually need. Decades of research has assumed women’s physiology mirrors men’s. The result is science designed for half the population and applied to all of it.
Gatorade Sports Science Institute: Four decades of hydration and nutrition research
GSSI has conducted hydration and nutrition research on thousands of athletes. The institute has authored hundreds of peer-reviewed studies and shaped Gatorade product innovation across the portfolio. With “Body of Science,” GSSI is applying that expertise to close the women’s research gap.
“For over four decades, GSSI has been committed to understanding hydration and nutrition science,” said Dr. Kimberly Stein, Senior Principal Scientist at Gatorade Sports Science Institute. “‘Body of Science’ represents a pivotal evolution of that mission – one that acknowledges and addresses a critical gap in research. By conducting and publishing peer-reviewed studies on women’s unique hydration and nutrition needs across life stages, we’re not just advancing the science; we’re establishing a new standard. This research will empower women to perform at their best, inside and outside of sport, and navigate their bodies with evidence-based knowledge and solutions, not assumptions.”
Setting the standard: Venus Williams as first ambassador
Venus Williams will serve as the first ambassador for “Body of Science.” The tennis champion, style icon, entrepreneur, and author joins Gatorade to advance the research and amplify the gap it is closing.
“This work is so important because it’s not just about me, it’s about the women who come after me,” said Venus Williams. “For decades, we’ve pushed our bodies to the limit based on research designed for men. What excites me most is that with ‘Body of Science’, Gatorade is asking the right questions about hydration and nutrition and conducting the studies that will give women the knowledge we have been missing. I’m committed to championing this work alongside them.”
A’ja Wilson and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who are featured in the launch film, join an incredible lineup of Gatorade roster athletes including Lisa Billard, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Diana Flores, Candace Parker, Mallory Swanson, JuJu Watkins and Sophia Wilson—a collective that has helped inspire the launch of this initiative to help close the research gap.
“Body of Science” is a continuation of Gatorade’s Fuel Tomorrow platform, focused on fueling opportunities in sport and beyond. Women across the U.S. can participate in “Body of Science” research through the GSSI Labs app. Participants earn points-based gift card rewards on Gatorade.com. For more information, visit gatorade.com/body‑of‑science.
1Source: 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
2Source: Murphy Research, Dehydration Claims Study, March 2026
