Foods in this category are designed for longer shelf life, strong flavor appeal and convenience. Common examples include breakfast cereals, bacon, hot dogs, pre-packaged snacks and sweets.<\/p>\n
WEIGHT GAIN IN CERTAIN DECADE OF LIFE MAY BE MORE DANGEROUS, STUDY SUGGESTS<\/a><\/p>\n “Over the past decades, in parallel to the rising prevalences of obesity and knee osteoarthritis<\/a>, the use of natural ingredients in our diets has steadily diminished,” said the study\u2019s lead author, Zehra Akkaya, MD, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), in a press release.<\/p>\n Previous research into knee osteoarthritis \u2014 a degenerative “wear-and-tear” condition \u2014 has revealed that higher amounts of intramuscular fat in the thigh could increase the risk of developing the condition.<\/p>\n Doctors say processed meats should be avoided or strictly limited because of links to high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. (iStock)<\/p>\n When fat gets into the muscle, it weakens the support system for the knee, leading to more joint stress and inflammation.<\/p>\n “It constitutes one of the largest non-cancer-related healthcare costs in the United States and around the world. It is highly linked to obesity<\/a> and unhealthy lifestyle choices,” said Akkaya.<\/p>\n CANCER SURVIVORS EATING CERTAIN FOOD TYPES COULD FACE SHARPLY HIGHER RISK OF DEATH<\/a><\/p>\n The research team set out to determine whether diet directly influences this fat buildup. Using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative \u2013 which is a large, long-term public research project<\/a> focused on the condition \u2013 they analyzed 615 individuals who did not yet have osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n Through non-enhanced MRI scans, they looked for degeneration marked by streaks of fat replacing healthy muscle fibers in the thigh.<\/p>\n Separate research found slightly higher rates of osteoporosis and gout among adults using GLP-1s. (iStock)<\/p>\n The results, published in the journal Radiology, showed that the more ultraprocessed foods people consumed, the higher the amount of fat stored inside their thigh muscles.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n This was true regardless of a person\u2019s total caloric intake, their weight or how much they exercised.<\/p>\n Even if someone was “thin” or active, if their diet was primarily composed of ultraprocessed foods<\/a>, muscle quality and knee health could still be at risk.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n On average, the study participants consumed about 41% of their daily food from ultraprocessed sources.<\/p>\n Reducing ultraprocessed food consumption may help to preserve muscle quality, which in turn could alleviate the burden of knee osteoarthritis, according to the researchers.<\/p>\n When fat gets into the muscle, it weakens the support system for the knee, leading to more joint stress and inflammation. (iStock)<\/p>\n One of the best ways to prevent obesity is to adopt a healthy, balanced diet and to exercise regularly<\/a>.<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/a><\/p>\n There were some limitations to the study. While it showed a clear link between ultraprocessed foods<\/a> and muscle fat, it could not definitively prove that the food caused the fat buildup, only that they happened at the same time.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n The findings are also based on participants reporting their own diets, which can sometimes be inaccurate compared to clinical monitoring, the researchers noted.<\/p>\n Additionally, the study focused on people already at high risk for knee issues, so the results might not apply as much to younger or healthier populations<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/maha-red-meat-new-federal-guidelines.jpg\")
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