The breakfast ‘linked to more fat in the thighs’ no matter how many calories you consume

No matter how many calories you consume during the day, what you eat for breakfast may result in extra fat being stored in your thighs.

According to studies, eating a bowl of cereal first thing in the morning may make you more pear-shaped.

Due to the fact that many breakfast cereals are ultra-processed foods (UPFs), this is the case.

This indicates that they have undergone significant change from their original form and include substances like chemicals, colorings, and sweeteners that aren’t typically used in home cooking.

Other UPFs, such prepared meals, were also connected by researchers to increased thigh fat storage.

The study found that diets high in these foods also impacted muscle quality, regardless of how much exercise someone did.

According to specialists, having more fat in the thigh muscle may make knee osteoarthritis more likely.

It is difficult to run, climb stairs, or kneel because of this ailment, which makes joints painful and stiff.

“The novelty of this study is that it investigates the impact of diet quality, specifically the role of ultra-processed foods in relation to intramuscular fat in the thigh muscles assessed by MRI,” stated study author Zehra Akkaya, a researcher and former Fulbright Scholar in the University of California’s Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging.

“This is the first imaging study looking into the relationship between MRI-based skeletal muscle quality and quality of diet.”

UPFs, which include items like margarine, frozen pizzas, and carbonated beverages, typically have extended shelf life and are easy to grab for a quick lunch or snack.

They are particularly delicious since they typically contain a mix of sugar, fat, salt, and carbohydrates.

It is difficult to stop eating because of these compounds’ effects on the brain’s reward system.

The goal of the new study, which was presented at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting, was to determine how UPF consumption might impact the way fat is stored in the thigh muscle.

They examined information from 666 participants in the US Osteoarthritis Initiative, a statewide study that aids in the development of better prevention and treatment strategies for osteoarthritis in the knee.

With an average body mass index (BMI) of 27, the individuals were overweight.

They consumed almost 40% ultra-processed foods within the previous 12 months.

Regardless of the number of calories consumed, the study discovered that the more UPFs people took in, the more fat they had in their thigh muscles.

According to Dr. Akkaya, “Eating ultra-processed foods is associated with increased fat within the thigh muscles in an adult population at risk for but without knee or hip osteoarthritis.”

“These results were consistent irrespective of BMI, dietary energy content, sociodemographic characteristics, or levels of physical activity.

“Targeting modifiable lifestyle factors, mainly prevention of obesity via a healthy, balanced diet and adequate exercise, has been the mainstay of initial management for knee osteoarthritis.”

In the UK, osteoarthritis is the most prevalent kind of arthritis.

It results in pain, swelling, and trouble moving the joint because it breaks down the protecting cartilage on the ends of your bones.

If you are older and have a family history of osteoarthritis, you are more likely to develop the condition in your joints after an injury.

Being obese increases your risk since too much weight can put stress on your joints, especially your hips and knees.

Women are also at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis.

“Osteoarthritis is an increasingly common and expensive global health issue,” stated Dr. Akkaya.

In the US and globally, it is the biggest cause of non-cancer-related medical expenses.

“Since this condition is highly linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyle choices, there are potential avenues for lifestyle modification and disease management.”