You might want to reconsider that bacon; it could be contributing to your knee problems, according to some recent research.
Studies into ultraprocessed foods have highlighted their adverse health effects, and now, there’s evidence connecting them to a higher risk of knee arthritis.
These foods, which are designed for long shelf life and convenience, often include breakfast cereals, bacon, hot dogs, and various snacks and desserts.
“In the last few decades, while obesity and knee osteoarthritis rates have risen, the use of natural ingredients in our diets has decreased,” stated Zehra Akkaya, MD, the lead researcher from the University of California, San Francisco.
Previous investigations into knee osteoarthritis—a condition often arising from wear and tear—suggest that increased intramuscular fat in the thigh can elevate the risk of developing it.
Fat infiltrating muscle can weaken the support structure for the knee, subsequently causing additional stress and inflammation in the joint.
“This issue is among the largest non-cancer-related healthcare costs worldwide, closely tied to obesity and unhealthy lifestyle choices,” Akkaya explained.
The research team aimed to examine whether diet had a direct impact on the accumulation of this fat, analyzing 615 individuals from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a significant long-term research project focusing on the condition, who had not yet developed osteoarthritis.
Through the use of non-enhanced MRI scans, they sought to identify muscle degeneration marked by fatty deposits replacing healthy muscle fibers in the thigh.
The findings, published in the journal Radiology, indicated that individuals consuming more ultraprocessed foods had higher levels of fat stored in their thigh muscles.
This correlation persisted independent of caloric intake, body weight, or exercise levels. Even those who were considered “thin” or active faced risks if their diets relied heavily on ultraprocessed foods, impacting muscle quality and knee health.
On average, study participants derived about 41% of their daily food intake from ultraprocessed sources. Reducing the consumption of these foods could help maintain muscle quality, potentially mitigating issues related to knee osteoarthritis, the researchers suggested.
One effective way to combat obesity includes maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise.
However, the study did have its limitations. While it highlighted a connection between ultraprocessed foods and muscle fat, it couldn’t definitively establish causation. It only indicated that both factors were present concurrently.
Moreover, the findings relied on self-reported diets from participants, which could be prone to inaccuracies compared to clinical assessments. Additionally, the study concentrated on individuals at higher risk for knee problems, meaning the results might not be as applicable to younger or healthier populations.
