French Fries Diabetes Risk: Study Links Weekly Consumption to Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk
People who enjoy French fries may want to rethink how often they eat them. A major new study has linked frequent French fries consumption to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers followed more than 205,000 adults for nearly 40 years. They found that eating three servings of French fries per week was associated with a 20% higher risk of type 2 diabetes. In contrast, boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes did not show a significant increase in risk.
Deep Frying May Be the Real Problem
Health experts say the issue is not the potato itself. Instead, the deep-frying process appears to play a major role in increasing health risks.
Potatoes provide important nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, and magnesium. However, they also contain large amounts of starch and have a high glycemic index. Therefore, they can cause blood sugar levels to rise quickly. Researchers wanted to understand whether cooking methods changed the impact of potatoes on diabetes risk.
Findings From a 40-Year Study
The research used data collected from healthcare professionals between 1984 and 2021. At the beginning of the study, none of the participants had diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.
During the follow-up period, 22,299 participants developed type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for lifestyle and dietary habits, researchers found that every three weekly servings of potatoes were linked to a 5% increase in diabetes risk. However, French fries showed the strongest connection, while boiled, baked, and mashed potatoes showed no significant association.
Whole Grains Linked to Lower Risk
The study also examined what happened when potatoes were replaced with other foods. Researchers found that replacing three weekly servings of potatoes with whole grains was associated with an 8% lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
Replacing French fries with whole grains reduced the risk even further. Although the study cannot prove that French fries directly cause diabetes, the findings support current dietary advice. Experts recommend eating more whole grains and limiting deep-fried foods to help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and improve overall health.
