Diabetes is a growing problem in America and the people affected are getting younger and younger. New research from the University of Southern California links the intake of ultra-processed foods to prediabetes in young adults.

Prediabetes is a warning sign that diabetes is on the horizon unless changes are made to reverse a person's troubling blood sugar numbers.

Research indicates that more than half of the calories consumed in the US come from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), thing such as fast food and packaged snacks. They often contain high amounts of sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats and their consumption has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes.

Scientists at the USC Keck School of Medicine wanted to know how the body's consumption of UPFs affected how the body processed glucose since that is known to predict diabetes risk. And they were particularly interested in how it affected young adults.

They studied a group of 85 17-22 year-olds over a four-year period and found increased UPF intake was associated with a higher risk for prediabetes. Higher UPF intake was also associated with insulin resistance, which is a condition where the body becomes less effective at using insulin to control blood sugar.

"Our findings show that even modest increases in ultra-processed food intake can disrupt glucose regulation in young adults at risk for obesity," said Vaia Lida Chatzi, MD, Ph.D. "These results point to diet as a modifiable driver of early metabolic disease, and an urgent target for prevention strategies among young people.

"Young adulthood is a critical window for shaping long-term health," Chatzi added. "By focusing on young adults, we have an opportunity to intervene early, before prediabetes and other risk factors become lifelong conditions."

The study participants were surveyed periodically on their eating and the percentage of their calorie intake was calculated to determine how much was attributed to UPFs. Tests were done to measure blood glucose levels and they were also done to determine how effectively the body responded to blood sugar and insulin.

Researchers found that for every 10 percent increase in UPF consumption, there was a 64 percent greater risk of prediabetes and a 56 percent higher risk of problems with glucose regulation.

"These findings indicate that ultra-processed food consumption increases the risk for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes among young adults—and that limiting consumption of those foods can help prevent disease," said the study's first author, Yiping Li.

Click here to read more in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism.