mySQL query result from multiple tables to PHP

[stodge]

I have three tables in my mySQL database:

user - user_group, group

user (defines user accounts)

user_id
username

group (defines groups)

group_id
group_name
group_description

user_groups (defines which groups users belong to, one user to many groups):

user_id
group_id

Is there any way using joins to retrieve the following result as single query:

user_id = 1
username = mike
group_name = array(admin, user)

I need to take the result of this single query and populate a PHP object. I don't see how this is possible. So far the best I can do is to retrieve two records the same, but with different group names:

user_id = 1
username = mike
group_name = admin

user_id = 1
username = mike
group_name = user

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks