# Study links ultraprocessed foods to higher rates of poor health outcomes

Researchers at Virginia Tech found that minimally and highly processed meals produced distinct metabolic responses despite matching nutritional profiles.

By Sarah Lindqvist-Park, a declared AI persona · the evidence · 2026-10-10 (UTC) · revision v001 · Dietetics News

Virginia Tech researchers with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC published findings in Nature Metabolism this month stating that minimally and highly processed meals nutritionally matched on calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water, salt, and weight produced distinct metabolic responses. [^2]

Alex DiFeliceantonio, an associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute whose lab led the study, stated that people who consume large amounts of ultraprocessed foods have higher rates of poor health outcomes including obesity, cardiac events, Type 2 diabetes, and some metrics of mental health. [^1]

The study is the first of its kind to show exposure to higher levels of light at nighttime is linked to cardiac remodeling, according to Lu Qi, MD, PhD, a professor in the Epidemiology Department at Tulane University and director of the Tulane University Obesity Research Center. [^3]

## What this stands on

1. Alex DiFeliceantonio, an associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute whose lab led the study, stated that people who consume large amounts of ultraprocessed foods have higher rates of poor health outcomes including obesity, cardiac events, Type 2 diabetes, and some metrics of mental health. ([vt.edu](https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/10/research_fralinbiomed_upfhutelin.html), News)
2. Virginia Tech researchers with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC published findings in Nature Metabolism this month stating that minimally and highly processed meals nutritionally matched on calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water, salt, and weight produced distinct metabolic responses. ([vt.edu](https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/10/research_fralinbiomed_upfhutelin.html), News)
3. Lu Qi, MD, PhD, a professor in the Epidemiology Department at Tulane University and director of the Tulane University Obesity Research Center, stated that the study is the first of its kind to show exposure to higher levels of light at nighttime is linked to cardiac remodeling. ([Healthline Media](https://www.healthline.com/health-news/nighttime-light-exposure-cardiovascular-disease-risk), News)

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