How Ultraprocessed Foods Impact Muscle Health
- New research published on April 14, 2026, in the journal Radiology suggests that a diet high in ultraprocessed foods may negatively impact musculoskeletal health by increasing fat accumulation...
- The study utilized MRI scan data to identify a correlation between the intake of ultraprocessed foods—which include fast food, sugary drinks and salty snacks—and a greater buildup of...
- Ultraprocessed foods are typically characterized by high calorie counts and low levels of the vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients required to maintain healthy muscle tissue.
New research published on April 14, 2026, in the journal Radiology suggests that a diet high in ultraprocessed foods may negatively impact musculoskeletal health by increasing fat accumulation within the muscles.
The study utilized MRI scan data to identify a correlation between the intake of ultraprocessed foods—which include fast food, sugary drinks and salty snacks—and a greater buildup of fat in the thigh muscles of participants.
The Impact of Ultraprocessed Foods on Muscle Composition
Ultraprocessed foods are typically characterized by high calorie counts and low levels of the vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients required to maintain healthy muscle tissue.
According to Dr. Thomas Link, the senior author of the study and chief of the musculoskeletal imaging section at the University of California San Francisco, diet has a significant impact on musculoskeletal health, a fact that is less widely known than the established links between these foods and diabetes or heart health.
The research highlights two distinct ways the body stores fat within muscles:
- Intramuscular fat: Fat stored in droplets within the muscle fibers.
- Intermuscular fat: Fat that appears in
streaks
situated between healthy muscles.
While all individuals possess some amount of both fat types regardless of physical ability or weight, the expansion of intermuscular fat is considered detrimental.
Muscle Fat and Physical Activity
Christopher Fry, co-director of the Center for Muscle Biology at the University of Kentucky, explains that the body utilizes these fat stores differently based on activity levels and metabolic health.
In extreme athletes, fat stored as droplets within muscle fibers serves as a critical energy reserve used during periods of extraordinary exertion. Thick streaks of intermuscular fat are typically absent in these individuals.
When these energy reserves are not utilized, or in cases where a person has a metabolic disease such as Type 2 diabetes, fat begins to accumulate, specifically forming streaks between the muscles.
Study Methodology and Participant Data
The findings were based on a cross-sectional secondary analysis of data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a long-term study.
The analysis included 615 participants with an average age of just under 60. These individuals were at risk for knee osteoarthritis, though they did not have rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, or existing hip or knee osteoarthritis at the time of the study.
Regarding the participants’ physical profiles, nearly two-thirds were classified as overweight and just under one-fourth were classified as obese based on body mass index (BMI) data.
Broader Context of Muscle Health
The relationship between diet and muscle quality has not previously been a primary focus of research. However, other studies have explored similar themes. A cross-sectional NHANES study published on February 19, 2024, in Front Nutr. Found that higher intake of ultraprocessed foods was associated with low muscle mass in adults ranging from young to middle-aged.
Maintaining optimal muscle health during younger and middle-aged years is considered pivotal, as older adults face a higher risk of sarcopenia.
The most recent findings in Radiology add to the understanding of the risks associated with ultraprocessed diets, suggesting that the resulting fat accumulation in thigh muscles may be another reason to limit the intake of these foods to maintain stronger and healthier muscles.