We all know that older adults face an increased risk of osteoporosis, a disease characterized by weak, brittle bones. A new study by American and Chinese researchers, however, has found that a particular diet can bring this malady to the doorstep of far younger people.
It’s a diet of ultraprocessed foods.
Ultraprocessed foods are products made mostly from industrial ingredients, not whole foods, and designed to be convenient, highly tasty and long-lasting. And they’re not very healthy.
Examples include packaged snacks and cookies, frozen pizza and instant noodles. The entire list of products, however, is quite long. Think junk food.
But a new study involving more than 160,000 participants found that those eating a diet high in ultraprocessed foods faced a significantly higher risk of bone density loss. That’s compared with people who eat healthier foods.
The data were obtained from the UK Biobank study. This was a long-term project that tracked the health information for half a million people in the United Kingdom.
Those involved in the study logged their diets for five years, and their bone density was measured in four different body sites.
The researchers noticed a significant association between bone density loss among those under 65 and habitual consumption of ultraprocessed foods. In older adults, natural bone density loss with aging likely masks any loss from a poor diet.
The findings suggest that eating junk food increases the risk of bone fractures. As an observational study, scientists can’t prove a link between diet and weaker bones. But the findings are nonetheless worrisome.
The study is yet another reminder that you are what you eat.