Gotham FC, Flamingo and the Women's Sports Foundation® Announce Built to Move, A New Study Linking Movement to Greater Body Appreciation

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Aug. 5, 2026) – Gotham FC, Flamingo and the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF®) announced Wednesday the findings of new research exploring the relationship between physical activity and body appreciation among women, entitled Built to Move: The Powerful Impact of Physical Activity and Sport for Women. The data will inform future community impact programming from Gotham FC and Flamingo as part of the organizations’ shared commitment to advancing women on and off the pitch.

Drawing on responses from more than 1,500 women ages 22–35, the study found that movement and physical activity is associated with greater body appreciation, improved mental and physical health and stronger feelings of power and pride in what one’s body can do. The full report can be accessed here.

The research aligns with one of Gotham FC’s four social impact pillars, women’s advancement, guiding the club’s efforts to create greater access, opportunity and lasting change for women and girls throughout its community and Flamingo’s commitment to body autonomy and body neutrality. Gotham FC announced its partnership with Flamingo in June 2025, with this research marking the next phase of the organizations’ work together. Flamingo will also be the title night sponsor of Gotham FC’s Pride match on Friday, Aug. 28 against Portland Thorns FC at 8 p.m. ET, where WSF will join the organizations to share key findings from Built to Move with fans and the broader community.

“The research confirms what we already know and feel as women every day - that the more we move our bodies, the less we focus on how we look and the more we appreciate what they can do,” says Giselle Balagat, CMO of Flamingo and Harry’s and executive sponsor of the Mammoth Brands Women’s ERG. “What brought us together with Gotham FC was their deep commitment to social impact, and we are thrilled to launch this partnership in collaboration with Women’s Sports Foundation. Together, we hope to shift the narrative around women's relationship with their bodies and sport, and inspire the next generation to see movement as a source of strength, not judgement.”

According to the study, women who engage in just one to two hours of physical activity per week are 83% more likely to report positive body appreciation than women who are inactive or move for less than one hour. At two to four hours per week, women are nearly twice as likely to report positive body appreciation, 54% more likely to report good physical health and 46% more likely to report good mental health. Connection may further amplify these benefits, with 76% of women who move alongside others reporting positive body appreciation.

The findings also show that women are motivated to move to improve physical and mental health, stress relief, strength and long-term well-being, and not just improve their appearance. This is especially meaningful given that 34% of respondents reported fair or poor body appreciation, underscoring how movement can help women experience their bodies not as something to evaluate but as something to value for what it makes possible.

"Built to Move shows that physical activity has the power to transform not only health, but also the way women see themselves," said WSF CEO Danette Leighton. "We're grateful to Gotham FC and Flamingo for partnering with the Women's Sports Foundation to help turn this research into action and inspire more women to discover forms of physical activity that fit their lives."

Additional information about the resulting community impact programming will be announced at a later date.