Home

  /  

Food

  /  

Can French Fries Increase Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes? Here’s What A New Study Suggests

A study published in the medical journal The BMJ revealed that eating three servings of French fries a week can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 20%. It further revealed that consuming the same amount of boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes does not substantially increase the risk.

by Tashika Tyagi
Can French Fries Increase Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes? Here’s What A New Study Suggests

Crispy, golden, and irresistible—French fries are the ultimate comfort food. But behind the delicious and salty golden dish lies a question we can’t ignore: do our beloved French fries come with hidden health risks, especially when it comes to diabetes? Here’s what a new study has to say.

French Fries Might Be Raising Your Diabetes Risk

According to a study published in the medical journal The BMJ, eating three servings of French fries a week can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 20%. For this study, the authors examined the diets of more than 205,000 adults in the US. They all had to fill out questionnaires about what they ate over nearly four decades.

The authors of the study found “In the pooled analysis of the three cohorts, adjusted for age and total energy intake, a strong association was found between total potato intake and higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).”

fries diabetes
Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Alex P

The study further revealed that replacing any form of potatoes with whole grains is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. However, swapping them for white rice is linked to an increased risk.

Also Read: Mom Calls Baby Stealing Fries Her “Life Hack For Postpartum Weight Loss”; Internet, “I’m Gonna Need One Of Those!”

Food Preparation Is Key To Overall Health

While regular French fries consumption could raise type two diabetes risk, the study found that the issue wasn’t with potatoes but how they were cooked. It revealed that having similar amounts of boiled, baked or mashed potatoes in a week does not substantially increase the risk of diabetes in an individual. As per Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the way foods are prepared is key to their overall health risks or benefits.

Also Read: Does Truffle Oil Have Actual Truffles In It? Here’s Why You Should Think Twice Before Ordering A Truffle Dish

We always knew that French fries weren’t healthy, but the fact that they can potentially raise the risk of diabetes is very concerning.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Didier VEILLON

For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.
First Published: August 07, 2025 12:56 PM