A study has revealed that ultra-processed foods (such as breakfast cereals and ready-made meals) are linked to the accumulation of fat around the knees, regardless of calorie intake.
The research conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, also found that a diet rich in ultra-processed foods affects muscle quality, even with regular exercise. According to experts, an excess of fat in the knee muscles may increase the risk of osteoarthritis in the knees.
Zahra Akaya, a researcher in the Department of Radiology at the university and the author of the study, stated that the uniqueness of the research lies in its examination of the impact of diet, particularly the role of ultra-processed foods related to fat in the knee muscles, which was assessed using MRI.
She explained that this is the first imaging study of its kind to explore the relationship between skeletal muscle quality, measured through MRI, and diet quality.
Ultra-processed foods (including frozen pizza, soda drinks, and margarine) are long-lasting and attract people because they are convenient to use. These foods typically contain a combination of sugar, fat, salt, and carbohydrates.
