A new study finds that people who consume too much ultra-processed food have more fat in their thigh muscles, a change that may raise the risk of poor muscle and knee osteoarthritis.
According to experts from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), the food you eat affects your muscle health. It also increases the risk of the most common form of arthritis. According to a news article published on RSNA’s official website on April 14, 2026, people who eat large amounts of ultra-processed foods have higher levels of fat in their thigh muscles.
Researchers assessed nutrition data and MRI scans from 615 overweight adults at risk for knee osteoarthritis. An expert mentioned that, on average, around 41% of the foods people ate over the previous year were ultra-processed.
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The study found that as consumption of ultra-processed foods increased, so did intramuscular fat in thigh muscles, independent of fat intake, exercise, or other variables.
It appears on MRI scans as fatty streaks in place of healthy muscle tissue. This may increase the likelihood of developing knee osteoarthritis, according to the researchers. According to the study’s first author, “This study highlights the importance of nutrition for muscle quality in knee osteoarthritis.”
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