New research presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America suggests that eating a diet high in ultra-processed foods may lead to decreased muscle quality, including more fat stored inside muscles.
The study included over 650 participants with an average age of 60 years. Participants had their thighs imaged to assess the progression of knee osteoarthritis, which is associated with fatty degeneration of the thigh muscles on MRI scans. Additionally, participants reported their dietary intake for the past year, including ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods are foods that have gone through high levels of industrial processing and often contain artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, or chemical alterations. The goal of the study was to see how the intake of ultra-processed foods is related to fat in thigh muscles, which may ultimately help determine how ultra-processed foods are related to the progression of osteoarthritis.
The results showed that eating more ultra-processed foods was associated with more intramuscular fat in the thigh muscles. This association remained true regardless of the overall caloric intake of the participants, the level of physical activity that they participated in, or their body mass index.
The authors noted that osteoarthritis is a costly medical condition that has become more common in recent years. It is highly correlated with both obesity and unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as poor dietary quality and a lack of physical activity. This study shows how ultra-processed foods affect muscle quality, which may be a contributing factor in osteoarthritis. Improvements in dietary quality are likely to improve many aspects of health, including heart health, muscular health, and even mental health. Lifestyle choices such as exercise and diet are simple targets to prevent and manage osteoarthritis, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and more.
Sources: Radiological Society of North America, Science Daily
