THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD INTAKE AND KNEE CARTILAGE THICKNESS IN MEN AND WOMEN:DATA FROM OSTEOARTHRITIS INITIATIVE

Purpose (the aim of the study): Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) continues to be a burdensome disease on our globally aging population with increasing obesity. Compared to men, women with KOA appear to have higher rates of cartilage loss. Lifestyle is an important reason behind this sex discrepancy, for which diet is a modifiable factor. Earlier research has highlighted the importance of healthy diets for healthier joints. The prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPF), defined as food items that are prepared using industrial-scale chemical processing methods is increasing in food markets.