Hold the fries: Major BMJ study separates potatoes from french fries in diabetes risk—what it means for Thailand
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).