Medical Bulletin 05/June/2026 - Video

Here are the top medical news for today:

Researchers Discover Unexpected Association Between French Fries and Diabetes

A side of fries a few times a week may seem harmless, but new research suggests it could quietly raise the risk of type 2 diabetes over time.

A large study published in The BMJ has found that eating French fries three times a week was associated with a 20 per cent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Surprisingly, the same link was not seen with potatoes prepared in other ways, such as boiling, baking, or mashing, highlighting that how potatoes are cooked may matter as much as the food itself.

Researchers analysed dietary and health data from more than 205,000 adults in the United States over nearly four decades. During the follow-up period, more than 22,000 participants developed type 2 diabetes. After accounting for lifestyle and dietary factors, the team found that every three weekly servings of French fries were linked to a substantially higher diabetes risk, while boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes showed no significant association.

The study also examined what happened when potatoes were replaced with other carbohydrate-rich foods. Swapping three weekly servings of potatoes for whole grains was associated with an 8 per cent lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Replacing French fries specifically with whole grains was linked to an even greater reduction of 19 per cent. In contrast, replacing potatoes with white rice was associated with a higher diabetes risk.

Experts believe French fries may be particularly problematic because they combine rapidly absorbed starch with deep-frying, which increases calorie density and may negatively affect metabolism. Potatoes themselves contain beneficial nutrients such as fibre, vitamin C, and magnesium, suggesting that preparation methods play a crucial role in determining their health impact.

The results reinforce current dietary recommendations that favour whole grains while suggesting that not all potato dishes carry the same health risks. When it comes to diabetes prevention, the choice between fries and whole grains could make a meaningful difference over time.

REFERENCE: Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, Xiao Gu, Fumiaki Imamura, Hala B AlEssa, Orrin Devinsky, Qi Sun, Frank B Hu, JoAnn E Manson, Eric B Rimm, Nita G Forouhi, Walter C Willett. Total and specific potato intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: results from three US cohort studies and a substitution meta-analysis of prospective cohorts. BMJ, 2025;390:e082121 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2025-082121

Study Suggests Ketogenic Diet May Aid Anorexia Nervosa Treatment

A disorder that can take over a decade to diagnose may finally have a new treatment avenue. Researchers at the University of California San Diego have reported promising results from a pilot study suggesting that a ketogenic diet could help improve symptoms of anorexia nervosa, one of the deadliest psychiatric illnesses worldwide.

Published in Communications Medicine, the study tested a supervised ketogenic nutritional intervention in 22 adults with weight-normalized or mildly underweight anorexia nervosa. The diet, which is high in fat, low in carbohydrates, and moderate in protein, was followed for 14 weeks.

The results were encouraging. Nearly 72% of participants who completed the intervention reached the recovered range on eating disorder symptom scales, meaning they no longer met the criteria for an anorexia nervosa diagnosis by the end of the study. All participants who completed the program also showed improvements in depression symptoms, with most reaching normal depression score ranges.

Anorexia nervosa is characterized not only by dangerously low body weight but also by persistent psychological symptoms, including an intense fear of gaining weight, body image distress, and restrictive eating behaviors. Even after weight restoration, many patients continue to struggle with these symptoms, contributing to high relapse rates.

Researchers believe the ketogenic diet may work by addressing underlying neurometabolic dysfunction. Previous studies have suggested that anorexia nervosa could involve disruptions in how the brain processes and uses energy. By altering metabolism and encouraging the production of ketones, the diet may help regulate brain function and improve psychological symptoms.

The study's authors caution that these findings are preliminary. Still, the findings offer hope for a condition with limited treatment options. Larger clinical trials are now needed to determine whether ketogenic therapy can become a safe and effective addition to standard anorexia nervosa care.

REFERENCE: Frank, G. K. W., et al. (2026). Symptom impact and safety of ketogenic therapy in adults with anorexia nervosa: a feasibility trial. Communications Medicine. DOI: 10.1038/s43856-026-01644-0. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-026-01644-0

New Study Reveals Hidden Health Implications Associated With Constipation

The gut and the brain may be having a much deeper conversation than scientists once realized—and constipation could be one of the signals.

A new study published in Translational Psychiatry has found that people with chronic constipation are significantly more likely to experience depression, highlighting a powerful connection between digestive health and mental well-being. Researchers reported that individuals with constipation had approximately twice the odds of depression compared to those without the condition.

Depression affects around 350 million people worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of disability and poor quality of life. Constipation, one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, can also have a major impact on daily functioning, causing discomfort, stress, and reduced well-being.

To better understand the relationship between the two conditions, researchers conducted a large meta-analysis of 18 observational studies involving more than 730,000 participants from North America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

The findings revealed a consistent association between constipation and depression across different populations and study designs. People with constipation were found to have a pooled odds ratio of 2.08 for depression, indicating roughly double the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms.

Scientists believe the gut-brain axis may help explain the connection. This communication network links the digestive system and the brain through nerves, hormones, immune signals, and gut microbes. Disruptions in gut bacteria and digestive function may influence mood, while depression itself can affect bowel habits through changes in stress hormones, diet, and physical activity.

Researchers caution that the study does not prove constipation causes depression or vice versa. Still, the findings underscore the importance of integrated care. Experts say people experiencing persistent constipation should also be assessed for mental health concerns, while those with depression may benefit from greater attention to digestive health.

REFERENCE: Ren ZY, Guo ZY, Diao Q, Hashimoto K, Yang JJ, Zhang GF (2026). Constipation is associated with an increased risk of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Translational Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1038/s41398-026-04138-8. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-026-04138-8