Higher intake of UPFs was associated with greater metabolic risk in young adults with a history of overweight or obesity. A study in Nutrition & Metabolism examined relationships between UPF consumption and glucose homeostasis markers relevant to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk.

The observational study included 85 young adults aged 17 to 22 years who participated in the Metabolic and Asthma Incidence Research (Meta-AIR) study. Participants completed two 24-hour dietary recalls and an oral glucose tolerance test during two study visits. Food items were categorized as UPF or non-UPF using NOVA guidelines. Regression models assessed associations of baseline and changes in UPF consumption with follow-up glucose biomarkers, adjusting for demographics, physical activity, and total energy intake.

A 10 percentage-point increase in UPF consumption between visits was associated with 51% higher odds of prediabetes (odds ratio [OR] 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04 to 2.31) and 158% higher odds of impaired glucose tolerance (OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.43 to 5.85). Higher baseline UPF intake was associated with higher 2-hour insulin (β 45.11; 95% CI 22.42 to 67.80) and higher insulin area under the curve (β 63.56; 95% CI 34.95 to 92.17) at follow-up.

These findings suggest that higher UPF consumption may contribute to glucose dysregulation and elevate T2DM risk in young adults, supporting dietary strategies that limit UPF intake.