Ultra-processed foods linked to hidden muscle fat that may threaten your knees

A diet high in ultra-processed foods may be linked to unhealthy changes inside thigh muscles, according to new research involving people at risk for knee osteoarthritis. Researchers found that participants who ate more ultra-processed foods tended to have greater amounts of fat within their thigh muscles, even after accounting for calorie and fat intake, physical activity, and sociodemographic factors.

The findings were published in Radiology , a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Higher levels of fat within thigh muscles may potentially contribute to a greater risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.

Ultra-processed foods are often designed to be convenient, appealing, and long-lasting. They frequently combine sugar, fat, salt, and carbohydrates in ways that stimulate the brain's reward system, which can make them difficult to stop eating.