KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 14, 2026

Research shows that 47% of Americans fall short of optimal hydration, which can increase the risk of diabetes and other maladies. To address this, Kennesaw State University assistant professor Mitchell Zaplatosch wants to make a winnable game of staying hydrated.

Using existing water bottle technology and his own research into the psychology of hydration, Zaplatosch has found that pairing a smart water bottle with a log of body responses to hydrating improves the likelihood of adequate fluid consumption, particularly among women.

“Dehydration is associated with increased risk for diabetes, kidney stones, and potentially obesity as well,” said Zaplatosch, an assistant professor of exercise science in the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services. “The overall goal of the research is to identify an early intervention method that capitalizes on the interest of young people in technology.”

To that end, Zaplatosch has directed his research efforts toward the current generation of college students, with whom the appearance of water bottles is ubiquitous, almost like a fashion statement, he says. Nonetheless, the numbers indicate that Americans drink well below the recommendation of 3.7 liters for males and 2.7 liters for females a day of total fluids, including water. Zaplatosch seeks to change that behavior.

“It's more about that behavioral piece because within the study now, it's not just the bottle per se,” said Zaplatosch, who joined KSU’s faculty in 2023. “The bottle is a huge component of it, but we also do have people track and monitor their hydration status on their own when they're in the study, just using some simple indicators in their everyday life, like urine color, thirst sensation, and body weight fluctuations.”

The first steps of the behavioral research involve getting people to drink more water, and the second phase addresses the advantages of optimal hydration.

Zaplatosch earned his doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in exercise physiology with a dissertation focused on the relationships between habitual fluid intake and better health outcomes. Some of his findings included increased fat oxidation and lower metabolic rate, as well as increased hydration leading to a preference for healthier food. His research has shown the importance of increased hydration at a cellular level, and he has figured out how to connect that importance to advocacy for increased hydration.

“People know that it's healthy for them to drink more from the health risk standpoint, but we know much less about how we can merge the physiology side with the behavior side and incorporate technology in some ways to improve that behavior piece,” he said. “I recently talked with someone from a company with a device that we might be testing soon, but it all goes in line with the theme of using technology to improve hydration and other nutrition-related behaviors.”

In addition to his presentation at last fall’s PechaKucha event hosted by KSU’s Office of Research, Zaplatosch has presented nationally about the psychology behind optimal hydration, and he credits Wellstar College for supporting these opportunities. He said all the pieces are in place for more groundbreaking research into hydration.

“For the initial study, it was through an internal grant that actually paid participants for the study, paid for the supplies, everything needed,” he said. “I’ve had great support from the college, my department chair, everything to really help me succeed. I haven't felt like I’ve been lacking by any means. There are always plenty of things that I’m excited about doing, and the resources are there, the support’s there, collaborations are there. I’ve started some collaborations with others as well, either in the exercise science department or in other departments, too. It’s a great place for this kind of research, and I’m excited to keep it going.”

– Story by Dave Shelles

Photos by Katherine Seghers

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.