A diet higher in ultraprocessed foods may be linked to poorer bone health, according to a large study analyzing data from the UK Biobank.
Researchers found that people who consumed more ultraprocessed foods had lower bone mineral density and a higher risk of hip fractures over time. The findings, published in The British Journal of Nutrition, suggest that long-term dietary patterns may influence skeletal health alongside well-known factors such as age, body weight and physical activity.
The study followed more than 160,000 adults for roughly 12 years. Participants reported their dietary habits, including how often they consumed foods classified as ultraprocessed, a category that typically includes industrially manufactured products such as frozen meals, packaged snacks, sugary drinks and some ready-to-eat cereals.
During the study period, researchers tracked changes in bone mineral density and recorded fracture outcomes.
They found that participants with higher ultraprocessed food intake tended to have lower bone mineral density in several areas of the body, including the upper femur and the lumbar spine. These regions are especially important for skeletal strength and are commonly involved in serious fractures later in life.
“Our study cohort was followed for over 12 years, and we found that high intakes of ultra-processed foods were linked to a reduction in bone mineral density at several sites including key areas of the upper femur and the lumbar spine region,” said study co-author Lu Qi, professor of epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
The analysis also found a modest increase in fracture risk. For every additional 3.7 servings of ultraprocessed foods consumed daily, the risk of hip fracture rose by about 10.5 percent.
Researchers estimated that people in the study consumed an average of about eight servings of ultraprocessed foods per day. In practical terms, an additional 3.7 servings could correspond to something like a frozen dinner, a cookie and a soda added to a day’s intake.
The association appeared stronger in certain groups. The relationship between ultraprocessed foods and bone density was most pronounced in adults under 65 and in people with a low body mass index.
Low BMI is already a known risk factor for reduced bone density, and the researchers suggest that diet quality may further influence bone health in this population.
“Ultra-processed foods can be easily found on any trip to the grocery store, and these findings add to concerns of how they may affect our bone health,” Qi said.
Scientists emphasize that studies like this show associations, not cause and effect. People who eat more ultraprocessed foods often differ in other ways that may influence health, including overall diet quality, physical activity levels and socioeconomic factors.
Still, the findings add to a growing body of research linking dietary patterns high in ultraprocessed foods with a range of health outcomes.
Bone health depends on multiple nutrients, including calcium, protein, vitamin D and magnesium, as well as overall dietary balance. Diets centered around whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, dairy products, fish and whole grains are generally associated with stronger bone density across populations.
The new research suggests that patterns high in ultraprocessed foods may work in the opposite direction, potentially affecting skeletal health over time.
The news release did not specify the study’s funding sources.