The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee Potatoes and Weight Loss: Surprising Research | Dr. Hana Kahleova
Sep 25, 2025
Dr. Hana Kahleova, a physician and researcher specializing in nutrition and metabolic health, dives into the truth about potatoes. She dispels myths linking potatoes to weight gain and diabetes, backed by recent studies suggesting their health benefits. Discover how potatoes rank highest on the satiety index and can improve glycemic control compared to basmati rice. Kahleova highlights practical tips for healthy preparation and shines a light on international studies showing protective effects of potato consumption on diet and diabetes risk.
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Potatoes Are Blamed For Their Crowd
- The apparent link between potatoes and diabetes often reflects preparation and meal context, not the tuber itself.
- Epidemiologic studies that group fries with other forms confound potato effects with red meat, refined grains, and high calories.
Fries And Chips Drive Potato Perceptions
- In the U.S., most potato intake away from home comes from fries, and at home the leading form is potato chips.
- These common formats explain much of the negative health associations attributed to potatoes.
Large Studies Find No Diabetes Link
- A large pooled analysis of 200,000+ people found no link between boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes and diabetes risk.
- Some cohort studies even show potatoes associated with lower diabetes risk when eaten with vegetables and legumes.