People who consume ultra-processed foods have worse muscle health, study suggests

by Radiological Society of North America

edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan

Researchers found that a diet high in ultra-processed foods is associated with higher amounts of fat stored inside thigh muscles, regardless of calorie or fat intake, physical activity or sociodemographic factors in a population at risk for knee osteoarthritis. Results of the study were published in Radiology. Higher amounts of intramuscular fat in the thigh could potentially increase the risk for knee osteoarthritis.

What counts as ultra-processed food

Ultra-processed foods usually have longer shelf lives and can be highly appealing and convenient. They contain a combination of sugar, fat, salt and carbohydrates which affect the brain's reward system, making it hard to stop eating.

These foods include breakfast cereals, margarines/spreads, packaged snacks, hot dogs, soft drinks and energy drinks, candies and desserts, frozen pizzas, ready-to-eat meals, mass-produced packaged breads and buns, which all include synthesized ingredients.

"Over the past decades, in parallel to the rising prevalences of obesity and knee osteoarthritis, the use of natural ingredients in our diets has steadily diminished and been replaced by industrially-processed, artificially flavored, colored and chemically altered food and beverages, which are classified as ultra-processed foods," said the study's lead author, Zehra Akkaya, M.D., researcher and consultant for the Clinical & Translational Musculoskeletal Imaging group at University of California, San Francisco, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging.

Dr. Akkaya and the research team set out to assess the relationship of ultra-processed food intake and intramuscular fat in the thigh.

How the study was conducted

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 615 individuals who participated in the Osteoarthritis Initiative who were not yet affected by osteoarthritis, based on imaging. The Osteoarthritis Initiative is a nationwide research study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, that helps researchers better understand how to prevent and treat knee osteoarthritis.

"Osteoarthritis is an increasingly prevalent and costly global health issue," Dr. Akkaya said. "It constitutes one of the largest non-cancer-related health care costs in the United States and around the world. It is highly linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyle choices."

Of the 615 individuals, (275 men, 340 women) the average age was 60 years. On average, participants were overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 27. Approximately 41% of the foods they consumed over the prior year were ultra-processed.

What the MRIs revealed about muscles

The researchers found that the more ultra-processed foods people consumed, the more intramuscular fat they had in their thigh muscles, regardless of caloric intake. On MRI, this can be seen as fatty degeneration of the muscle, where streaks of fat replace muscle fibers.

"In addition to investigating the quality of our modern diet in relationship to thigh muscle composition, in this study, we used widely available, non-enhanced MRI, making our approach accessible and practical for routine clinical use and future studies," Dr. Akkaya said. "These MRIs do not require advanced or costly technology, which means they can be easily incorporated into standard diagnostic practices."

By exploring how ultra-processed food consumption impacts muscle composition, this study provides valuable insights into dietary influences on muscle health.

Why diet quality matters for joints

"This research underscores the vital role of nutrition in muscle quality in the context of knee osteoarthritis," Dr. Akkaya said.

"Addressing obesity is a primary objective and frontline treatment for knee osteoarthritis, yet the findings from this research emphasize that dietary quality warrants greater attention, and weight loss regimens should take into account diet quality beyond caloric restriction and exercise."

Targeting modifiable lifestyle factors—mainly prevention of obesity via a healthy, balanced diet and adequate exercise—has been the mainstay of initial management for knee osteoarthritis.

In addition to other health benefits, reducing ultra-processed food consumption may help preserve muscle quality, which in turn could alleviate the burden of knee osteoarthritis.

"In recent years, several researchers have shown detrimental impacts of ultra-processed food on various health outcomes but data on the relationship of ultra-processed food and body composition in the context of knee osteoarthritis is limited," Dr. Akkaya said.

"This is the first study assessing ultra-processed food's impact on thigh muscle composition using MRI. By exploring how ultra-processed food consumption impacts muscle composition, this study provides valuable insights into dietary influences on muscle health."

ARTICLE SOURCE: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-people-consume-ultra-foods-worse.html

Good read.

It is one of those articles like, "I already knew that before I really knew that".

Scott

Ahh but will anyone really listen?

Listening is almost a lost art.

Here at work tonight. I started the carnivore diet in May '24. Another guy here gave it a whirl and lost over a hundred pounds in a year. He has since reintroduced some fruits and has an occasional night out with the family and kids where he eats what we call the 'trash diet'. He is doing really well.

There is a guy that works for me who tried it, lost a bunch of weight which relieved some pretty severe back pain. He also got off blood pressure medicine. The reverted back to the 'trash diet', gained some weight back, the back pain has returned and again he is battling his blood pressure.

I would like to think in the same situation I would go with the plan I know will work. But??? He chose blood pressure medicine and one of the GLP-1 style pills. Tonight it looked like it hurt pretty bad to stand up and go to the floor to start the shift.

I try not to get up too high on the pedestal, but it is one thing for someone who has no experience, but it has to be a completely different story to experience a ton of positives but then choose pills and pain.

I am at a loss.

Scott

12 hours ago, Scott F. said:

Another guy here gave it a whirl and lost over a hundred pounds in a year. He has since reintroduced some fruits and has an occasional night out with the family and kids where he eats what we call the 'trash diet'. He is doing really well.

This isn't so unreasonable. It almost sounds like myself except I make sure that nothing that goes in my mouth is "trash" or part of a "trash diet" lol.

I occasionally have a small piece of fruit. I occasionally dine out and simply revert to keto for that one meal.

12 hours ago, Scott F. said:

[and then there's this other guy who] reverted back to the 'trash diet', gained some weight back, the back pain has returned and again he is battling his blood pressure.

I would like to think in the same situation I would go with the plan I know will work. But??? He chose blood pressure medicine and one of the GLP-1 style pills.

That's too bad. Sounds like he buys the 'you can eat anything you want as long as you take this pill'. I was told that too over a decade ago. It's complete BS.

Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.

Yep. Mostly I think taking the shot or the pill seems easier and probably seems the quicker route.

It would be a solid business model to get the prescription, take a few of the shots/pills, wait for the long-term side effects and get in on the class action lawsuits.

Not the smartest route but I can see it paying off....if you live long enough.

Scott

Yes I agree with the change in pain approach.

Scott