Ultra-Processed Foods and Obesity Linked to Prediabetes in Youth: Study

Prediabetes has become increasingly common among youth under the age of 20 in the U.S., with researchers now examining the effect of ultra-processed foods on its development.

A new study has found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) significantly increases the likelihood that young adults will develop prediabetic symptoms, an early warning sign for type 2 diabetes.

The findings were published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism on November 10, supporting allegations raised in a number of UPF lawsuits now being pursued against major food manufacturers, including Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kellogg’s and others.

Ultra-processed foods include a wide range of familiar snacks, drinks and ready-made meals that rely heavily on added sugars, unhealthy fats, salt and other additives to boost flavor, extend shelf life or improve texture, while offering little real nutritional benefit.

As consumption of these products has surged over recent decades, a growing body of research now links regular intake to long-term health problems, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes, with children appearing to be especially vulnerable.

Critics argue that food companies were aware of the addictive and harmful qualities of these products for decades, yet continued to market them aggressively to teenagers and young adults in an effort to build lifelong buying habits.

In light of these concerns, attorneys nationwide are now reviewing potential ultra-processed foods lawsuits on behalf of individuals who began eating these products at a young age and later experienced type II diabetes or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

In the new study, researchers looked at a subset of the Children’s Health Study, which included young adults who had a history of obesity from the Metabolic and Asthma Incidence Research (Meta-AIR) study. Participants were enrolled in the Meta-AIR study from 2014 through 2018 and returned for follow-up visits between 2020 and 2022, completing questionnaires regarding their dietary intake for the past 24 hours, as well as an oral glucose tolerance test at each visit.

Led by Yiping Li, the researchers classified foods from participants’ dietary questionnaires as UPF or non-UPF using the NOVA system, then used statistical models to measure how much ultra-processed food participants consumed at the start of the study and how their diets changed over time. They then examined how those patterns affected later blood sugar levels, adjusting for age, activity level and total calorie intake.

The study found that when a person increased the amount of ultra-processed food in their diet by just 10 percentage points between study visits, their chances of developing early signs of diabetes went up sharply. Specifically, they were 51% more likely to have prediabetes, and more than twice as likely, 158% higher odds, to show signs that their body was having trouble handling sugar properly.

Researchers also found that people who consumed large amounts of ultra-processed foods at the start of the study had higher insulin levels years later. Their insulin levels two hours after eating were noticeably elevated, and the total amount of insulin produced during the test period was significantly higher as well. These findings suggest that greater UPF consumption is linked to poorer blood sugar control and a much higher risk of developing conditions that can lead to type 2 diabetes.

“This study evaluated a unique population of the youth with detailed longitudinal measurements of diet and glucose homeostasis. These findings indicate that limiting the consumption of UPFs may be an important strategy for (type 2 diabetes) prevention among young adults.”

— Yiping Li, Ultra-processed food intake is associated with altered glucose homeostasis in young adults with a history of overweight or obesity: a longitudinal study

Based on these results, the researchers determined that cutting back on ultra-processed foods could be an important way for young people to protect their long-term health and lower their chances of developing diabetes.

Ultra-Processed Foods Lawsuits

The findings by Li’s team mirror allegations made by Bryce Martinez in one of the first ultra-processed foods lawsuits, which was brought with the intent of holding UPF manufacturers like Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, General Mills and others responsible for knowingly marketing these kinds of products to children, while concealing their long-term health risks.

In December 2024, Martinez filed a lawsuit suggesting that deceptive marketing and a lack of transparency led him to consume large amounts of ultra-processed food products as a child, leaving him with chronic and life-long injuries.

However, the complaint was dismissed by federal judge Mia R. Perez of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in August, finding that the allegations were too general and did not identify a specific product, ingredient or brand connected to the reported injuries, leaving the lawsuit without a solid legal foundation.

A motion seeking permission to amend and refile the ultra-processed food lawsuit was then filed by Martinez, outlining additional details about the specific products consumed and their quantities, while asking Judge Perez to reconsider her prior decision.

In response, food manufacturers filed an opposition to the plaintiff’s motion, countering that there are too many gaps in information about Martinez’s consumption of potentially dozens of products as a child, and that the amended filing contains details on products consumed which predate the original complaint by more than three years, violating statute of limitation laws.

Judge Perez’s eventual decision on whether to reinstate the amended complaint is expected to have a significant impact on future processed foods lawsuits, including how they are structured.

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