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3w ago

Study Ties Ultraprocessed Food Intake to Higher Fat in Thigh Muscles

The finding spotlights diet quality as a factor in muscle health beyond calories or BMI.

Ultraprocessed foods
Image
62 year old 2b
Diet of woman on the left was 29.5% ultraprocessed while the diet of a woman on the right was 87.1% ultraprocessed.

Overview

  • The new Radiology study, published Tuesday, analyzed MRI scans from 615 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants with an average age near 60 and a mean BMI of about 27.
  • Higher intake of ultraprocessed foods was linked to more fat streaks within and between thigh muscles, even after accounting for total calories, BMI, and physical activity.
  • Fat that infiltrates muscle can weaken strength and stability and has been linked in prior research to higher risk of knee osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
  • The authors caution the results show an association, not cause and effect, and note the cross-sectional design and older, at-risk cohort limit how broadly the findings apply.
  • Clinicians recommend shifting toward whole foods and low-impact strength and aerobic exercise to improve muscle quality, as ultraprocessed items now supply over half of U.S. adult calories.