Ultra-Processed Foods May Be Affecting Your Muscles, Too

Pain Points: Plenty of research has linked diets high in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other health problems. Now, a study published earlier this year suggests eating more UPFs may also be associated with poorer muscle health.

The Study: The study included 615 adults who participated in the Osteoarthritis Initiative, an NIH-sponsored research program studying knee osteoarthritis. Participants were at risk for knee osteoarthritis but had no signs of the condition on X-rays and no knee or hip pain. Their average age was about 60, their average BMI was 27, and UPFs made up roughly 41% of their diets.

The Takeaway: Researchers found that the more UPFs participants ate, the more fat infiltration they tended to have in their thigh muscles. The association remained even after researchers accounted for factors including total calorie intake, physical activity, and BMI or waist circumference. Greater fat infiltration in muscle has been associated with poorer muscle quality and knee osteoarthritis in other research.

Keep in Mind: This was a cross-sectional observational study, so it can’t prove that eating UPFs caused the changes in participants’ muscles. Diet was also self-reported, and the researchers studied people already considered at risk for knee osteoarthritis, so the findings may not apply equally to everyone.