#BMJ

A new wave of evidence is reframing a familiar dinner-table debate: potatoes themselves can fit into a healthy diet, but french fries are a different story. A large, decades-long analysis published in The BMJ found that eating french fries about three times a week was associated with a roughly 20% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while baked, boiled or mashed potatoes were not linked to increased risk. The findings, led by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, sharpen guidance for Thai families by focusing on cooking methods rather than demonising a staple ingredient. The practical message: how you prepare potatoes—and what you eat instead—may matter more than the potato itself (BMJ; Harvard Chan School press release).

Groundbreaking scientific evidence is fundamentally reframing familiar nutritional debates by demonstrating that potatoes themselves can integrate appropriately into healthy dietary patterns, while french fries represent distinctly different health risks requiring separate consideration. A comprehensive, decades-long analysis published in The BMJ found that consuming french fries approximately three times weekly associated with roughly 20 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes showed no significant association with increased diabetes risk. The landmark findings, led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, provide critical guidance for Thai families by emphasizing cooking methods rather than categorically condemning staple ingredients. The practical public health message proves clear: how families prepare potatoes—and what alternatives they choose—may matter substantially more than potato consumption itself according to BMJ publication documentation and Harvard Chan School research press releases.

A new global study has pinpointed four simple, cost-free exercise routines that can significantly alleviate sleep problems for adults, offering hope to millions of Thais who struggle nightly with restlessness and exhaustion. Published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine in July 2025, the research highlights yoga, Tai Chi, walking or jogging, and resistance training as the most effective forms of physical activity for improving not just sleep duration but quality and resilience against common disruptions—without the need for medication or expensive therapy (New Atlas, Science Daily).