---
title: USC study links ultra-processed food intake to prediabetes in young adults
description: Study links ultra-processed food intake to higher prediabetes risk in young adults with a history of overweight or obesity. Discover key insights from this significant research.
---

[Nutrition and Health Updates - Project FoodBox ](https://projectfoodbox.org/news)

# [USC study links ultra-processed food intake to prediabetes in young adults](https://projectfoodbox.org/news/usc-study-links-ultra-processed-food-intake-to-prediabetes-in-young-adults)

 Written by [Admin](https://projectfoodbox.org/news/author/admin) | Nov 13, 2025 9:28:31 PM

The USC study found that increased intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in young adults aged 17 to 22 with a history of overweight or obesity is strongly associated with a higher risk for developing prediabetes and impaired glucose regulation over a four-year span.

- The research followed 85 young adults and tracked their UPF consumption alongside glucose homeostasis markers such as fasting insulin and oral glucose tolerance test results.
- A 10% increase in calories from UPFs corresponded to a 64% higher risk of prediabetes and a 56% increase in impaired blood sugar regulation

[Read full article](https://keck.usc.edu/news/usc-study-links-ultra-processed-food-intake-to-prediabetes-in-young-adults/)

[View full post](https://projectfoodbox.org/news/usc-study-links-ultra-processed-food-intake-to-prediabetes-in-young-adults)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Admin"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-11-13T21:28:31.958Z",
  "datePublished" : "2025-11-13T21:28:31Z",
  "headline" : "USC study links ultra-processed food intake to prediabetes in young adults",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 1024,
    "url" : "https://44425751.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/44425751/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/photographic%20In%20a%20cozy%20dorm%20room%20a%20young%20adult%20sits%20on%20a%20cluttered%20bed%20surrounded%20by%20an%20array%20of%20ultraprocessed%20foods%20brightly%20colored%20soda%20cans%20shiny.png",
    "width" : 1536
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://projectfoodbox.org/news/usc-study-links-ultra-processed-food-intake-to-prediabetes-in-young-adults",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "Nutrition and Health News"
  }
}
```