Type 2 diabetes used to be called an “adult” disease – something that showed up later in life after years of unhealthy eating and sedentary habits. That’s no longer the full story. Over the past few decades clinicians and researchers have watched type 2 diabetes appear in younger and younger people, including children and teenagers. This shift matters because youth-onset type 2 diabetes tends to progress faster and brings a lifetime of increased risk for serious health conditions.
In recent years, researchers and health experts have been exploring a potential link between ultraprocessed foods and the rise of type 2 diabetes in children. At Kherkher Garcia, we are already seeing some lawsuits emerge from families who believe their children’s illness may be linked to the foods they consume. Below, our children’s product liability attorneys explore the potential link and the rise of what are being hailed “addictive food lawsuits”.
How Common is Type 2 Diabetes in Kids?
National surveillance and research show a clear increase in the rate of type 2 diabetes in children. For example, studies modeled from 2002–2018 found the annual rate of new type 2 diabetes diagnoses in young people roughly doubled (from about 9 per 100,000 to about 18 per 100,000). Furthermore, by later teen years the incidence of type 2 diabetes in some age groups even exceeded type 1. Those trends reflect both real increases in disease and changes in risk factors across the population.
Historically, youth-onset type 2 diabetes was rare. It was first strongly documented among specific high-risk populations (for example, Pima Indian communities). However, beginning in the 1990s clinicians reported rising numbers across broader U.S. populations. That historical context helps explain why seeing type 2 diabetes in a child raises alarm. It is a relatively recent, population-level problem.
Why do these trends matter? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease, kidney problems, and other serious complications as they age. This places a massive burden on victims and families, the healthcare system, and society.
Why the Rise? The Role of Obesity and Processed Foods
Type 2 diabetes in children is tightly linked to obesity and insulin resistance. The underlying drivers of the obesity surge in children are complex – socioeconomic factors, less physical activity, and powerful commercial food environments all play a role – but the widespread rise of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is a major, well-documented contributor.
Ultraprocessed foods are industrially formulated products often high in refined sugar, unhealthy fats, salt and additives. They are also low in fiber or micronutrients. Large cohort studies in adults consistently link higher UPF consumption to greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Recent reviews and prospective work extend concerns to children. For example, higher UPF intake is associated with greater adiposity, insulin resistance, and markers of metabolic dysfunction in pediatric populations. A growing body of pediatric research also ties UPFs to fatty liver disease and other metabolic risks in children with obesity.
Beyond the nutritional content, UPFs are engineered for high palatability and convenience and are heavily marketed to children. This is a combination that encourages frequent, high-calorie consumption from an early age. It can also promote habits that persist into adulthood. International organizations have recently highlighted UPFs as a primary driver of the global childhood obesity epidemic, which in turn raises the pool of children vulnerable to pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Many researchers equate UPFs to other addictive substances like alcohol or tobacco, only UPFs often target children. In 2024, the first addictive food lawsuit emerged by a group of parents who alleged that major food manufacturing companies were intentionally targeting children. The lawsuits allege that companies like Kellogg’s, Pepsi, and General Mills:
- Designed UPFs to be biologically addictive.
- Are aware that these foods contribute to overeating.
- Target children with advertising that capitalizes on their mental capacity and function.
What Research Says about Causation
It’s important to be precise: most human nutrition studies are observational, so they can show strong associations (eat more UPFs → higher risk of obesity/diabetes) but cannot alone prove direct causation. Still, the pattern is consistent and biologically plausible: diets dominated by refined sugars and unhealthy fats raise body weight, increase insulin demand, and encourage fatty liver and inflammation. These are all pathways toward insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Several prospective cohort studies and meta-analyses in adults have found statistically significant increases in type 2 diabetes risk with higher UPF intake. Additionally, pediatric studies increasingly show metabolic harm linked to UPFs in youth.
Why Early Onset Type 2 Diabetes in Children Matters
When type 2 diabetes appears in childhood or adolescence it often progresses faster and brings complications sooner than adult-onset disease. Young people with diabetes can develop blood-vessel damage, cardiovascular risk factors, early kidney disease, eye problems, and other complications within a shorter timeframe if blood sugar is poorly controlled. That makes prevention, early detection, and aggressive management – medical, nutritional, and behavioral – especially critical.
What Parents and Caregivers Should Watch For
Signs of metabolic risk or early type 2 diabetes in children and youth include:
- Excessive weight gain or central (abdominal) adiposity.
- Increasing thirst, more frequent urination, or unexplained fatigue.
- Acanthosis nigricans (darkened patches of skin, usually on the neck or armpits) – a marker of insulin resistance.
- Family history of type 2 diabetes, maternal gestational diabetes, or strong family history of obesity/metabolic disease.
If you notice warning signs, see a pediatrician. Early screening (blood sugar, A1c, or glucose tolerance testing when indicated) and lifestyle interventions can slow or sometimes reverse progression from prediabetes to diabetes.
Public Health and Legal Climate
The rising pediatric diabetes and obesity trends aren’t just clinical issues – they reflect social and commercial systems. Aggressive marketing to children, formulation of foods engineered to maximize consumption, and disparities in access to affordable healthy foods create environments that make healthy choices much harder for many families. That’s one reason there is increasing public interest and legal scrutiny around food industry practices, advertising targeted at children, and the role of ultraprocessed products in population health.
At Kherkher Garcia we are following public health and legal angles related to food addiction and litigation involving ultraprocessed products and marketing practices. While the science does not yet allow us to point at any single product and say “this caused a child’s diabetes,” there are legitimate avenues for legal action when companies mislead consumers, target children with deceptive marketing, or violate laws meant to protect vulnerable populations. Our role is to investigate whether corporate conduct contributed to preventable harm and to advocate for affected families.
Have Questions about Type 2 Diabetes and UPFs?
If you have questions or concerns about type 2 diabetes in children, ultraprocessed foods, or food addiction lawsuits, we are here to help. Take a look at our FAQs below, or contact us to ask specific questions.
Q: Can a child “reverse” early type 2 diabetes?
A: In some cases, lifestyle changes – weight loss, healthier diet, increased physical activity -combined with medical care can bring blood sugar back to normal or into better control, especially if intervention occurs early. However, success depends on many factors and medical follow-up is essential.
Q: Are ultra-processed foods the only reason kids get type 2 diabetes?
A: No. Genetics, prenatal exposures (like maternal gestational diabetes), socioeconomics, physical activity, sleep, and other environmental factors all interact. UPFs are a significant, modifiable risk contributor but not the sole cause.
Q: Should children with obesity automatically be tested for diabetes?
A: Guidelines recommend risk-based screening. If a child has obesity plus additional risk factors (family history, certain ethnic backgrounds, signs of insulin resistance), clinicians may screen. Ask your pediatrician for guidance tailored to your child.
Q: Can families pursue legal action related to a child’s diabetes?
A: Potentially, particularly where misleading advertising, deceptive labeling, or illegal marketing practices targeted at children can be shown. Each case is fact-specific. Consulting a lawyer experienced in consumer protection and product litigation is the first step. Kherkher Garcia can help review the facts, consider applicable laws, and explain options.
Q: What can I do now to help protect my child?
A: Prevention and early action matter. Steps families can take now include prioritizing whole foods (fruits, vegetables, minimally processed proteins and grains), cutting sugar-sweetened beverages, encouraging regular physical activity and sleep, and working with healthcare providers for screening and tailored prevention plans.
Free Consultation with a Children’s Product Liability Attorney
If you are concerned that a child’s health has suffered due to ultraprocessed foods, or you want to explore whether corporate practices may have played a role, Kherkher Garcia can help. We investigate and advise each potential client and their family based on the unique circumstances. We combine medical and scientific review with legal experience to help families understand whether there’s a viable claim and what remedies may be available.
Contact us for a confidential consultation to discuss your child’s situation and whether we can help. To get started right away, call us at 713-333-1030. If you have questions or want to schedule a consultation, submit our online contact form.
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