Bad Impact Of Ultra Processed Food, Fat Buildup In Understanding To Osteoartritis

Illustration of the impact of ultra-process food (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Recent research reveals that consumption of ultra-process food can cause a buildup of fat around the thigh muscles, even if a person does not consume excessive calories or reduce physical activity.

This finding also relates the habit of eating processed foods to increasing the risk of knee osteoartritis.

A report from Medical Daily on Monday (9/12) explained that foods such as breakfast contracts, frozen foods, snacks, and packaged snacks not only contribute to the buildup of fat, but also affect the health of joints.

This type of food is designed to attract consumers with a mixture of sweet, salty, fat, and carbohydrate flavors that can stimulate the reward system in the brain.

Despite being appetizing, research shows that excessive consumption of ultra-processable foods can increase the risk of obesity and metabolic disorders.

Research presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference also revealed that the effects of ultra-process food consumption exceeded weight gain. Researchers review the impact of processed foods on muscle composition, particularly on thighs, by using MRI imaging.

According to Dr. Zehra Akkaya, this research aims to explore the relationship between the quality of the diet and the condition of the skeleton muscle.

The results showed that in individuals who consumed processed foods, there was a buildup of fat in the thigh muscles. In fact, healthy muscle fibers are slowly replaced by fat.

This fat buildup increases the risk of muscle damage and knee osteoartritis, especially in adults who are at risk but have not experienced osteoartritis symptoms.

Dr. Akaya emphasized that these findings apply even though other factors such as calorie numbers, body mass indexes, physical activity levels, or sociodemographic conditions are taken into account. With this evidence, limiting the consumption of ultra-process foods is an important step to maintain muscle and joint health.