Ultra-processed foods are known to increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. But medical images have recently revealed the true extent of the damage these foods inflict on the body.
The new case study warned that excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods also leads to fat accumulation within the muscles themselves, weakening them and giving them a steak-like appearance.
Doctors published a cross-sectional image of a woman's thigh that showed 87% of her diet consisted of ultra-processed foods, such as sugary breakfast cereals, chocolate bars, and soft drinks. Despite engaging in moderate physical activity, her thigh muscles appeared heavily striated, resembling fatty meat.
And it's not the only case. In a larger study of 615 people at risk of knee osteoarthritis, researchers found that ultra-processed foods made up 41% of their daily diet, and that high consumption of these foods is directly linked to increased hidden fat within muscles, especially in the thighs.
This condition is medically known as adipose muscle spasm, and it occurs when metabolic stressors – such as a diet high in refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and additives – lead to muscle inflammation, insulin resistance in muscle cells, and the transformation of specialized cells within the muscle into fat cells, resulting in the replacement of healthy muscle tissue with fat pockets.
The consequences are serious. Excess muscle mass makes climbing stairs, carrying objects, and brisk walking more difficult, increases the risk of falls, and over time leads to a sedentary lifestyle that accelerates muscle loss. It is also linked to higher rates of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, chronic inflammation, and an increased risk of hospitalization, surgical complications, and premature death, especially in patients with liver, kidney, and cancer conditions.
MRI scans of the participants showed that the inner thighs were the most affected muscles, followed by the hamstrings, while the quadriceps were affected to a lesser extent. The results were identical between men and women, and the correlation was stronger when waist circumference was measured rather than body mass index.
While researchers cannot definitively say that eliminating these foods reverses the damage already done, evidence suggests that regular aerobic exercise (such as walking for 30-60 minutes daily) and resistance training can improve muscle tone and reduce muscle fat, even without significant weight loss. Weight loss surgery has also shown positive results in patients with morbid obesity.
