May Ultraprocessed Foods Raise Muscle Fat? - Summary - MDSpire
From the Journals

May Ultraprocessed Foods Raise Muscle Fat?

MRI study suggests higher intake is associated with greater intramuscular fat in patients at risk for knee osteoarthritis.

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Research indicates a possible link between the consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) and increased thigh muscle fat infiltration in patients at risk for knee osteoarthritis. An analysis of data from 615 individuals, all without radiographic osteoarthritis or knee/hip pain, revealed that UPF constituted 41% of their dietary intake over the previous year. Higher intakes corresponded with greater fat infiltration across all thigh muscles, with particularly notable effects in those with elevated abdominal circumference. The study highlights the detrimental impacts of UPF on muscle quality, raising important considerations for dietary habits in at-risk populations. Lead author Dr. Zehra Akkaya, alongside her colleagues, emphasizes the need for further exploration into these associations, given the limitations of the cross-sectional design and potential biases in self-reported dietary intake.

Original Source(s)

May Ultraprocessed Foods Raise Muscle Fat?

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • April 17, 2026

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