Crunching Chips Too Often? New Study Links It To Higher Diabetes Risk

Potato lovers, take note. Potato chips — the irresistible, crunchy snack loved by millions — may be quietly fueling a silent epidemic. A research has warned that indulging in fried potato products like chips and French fries more than a couple of times a week could significantly raise your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition affecting millions worldwide.

While the humble potato remains a global dietary staple, the way it is prepared could be the difference between health and harm, said the study, indicating that eating French fries three times a week raises the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes by 20 per cent.

The risk increases to 27 per cent when consumed five times weekly. In contrast, eating baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes at similar frequencies is associated with only a marginal 5 per cent rise in risk.

Potatoes rank as the third most widely consumed food crop globally, following rice and wheat. In the United Kingdom alone, an estimated 5.8 million people have diabetes, of which nine out of ten cases are type 2 diabetes—closely linked to lifestyle and dietary habits.

An international team of researchers led by Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, a public health expert at Harvard University, analysed food consumption data from over 200,000 health professionals in the United States over a span of nearly four decades (1984-2021). The findings highlight the significant health impact of frying potatoes as opposed to other cooking methods.

“The high starch content of potatoes contributes to their high glycemic index and load, which, combined with nutrient loss and other factors associated with frying, may lead to adverse health outcomes,” the study notes.

Replacing potatoes with whole grains, such as brown rice or wholemeal pasta, was found to reduce diabetes risk by 8 per cent. Substituting chips specifically with whole grains could lower the risk by up to 19 per cent.

The study also cautioned against replacing potatoes with white rice, as this may increase diabetes risk. Dr. Hashem further advised, “Enjoy potatoes, but avoid making chips your regular choice. Opting for whole grains or alternatives like sweet potatoes with skin can offer protective health benefits.”

While the study’s findings are observational and do not establish direct causation, they underscore the importance of dietary choices in managing diabetes risk.

In India, there are estimated 77 million people above the age of 18 years are suffering from diabetes (type 2) and nearly 25 million are prediabetics.