Does eating starch make you fat?

No, it does not, if you follow a balanced and well-diversified diet.

There is no one ingredient or nutrient that is the single cause of unhealthy weight gain. Current scientific evidence says that it is taking in more calories than you burn that leads to overweight.

There is also consensus among nutritionists that a balanced and healthy diet is achieved by eating a wide variety of foods from five main food groups in the right proportions: vegetables and fruit; starchy foods such as potatoes, bread, rice, pasta; protein-rich foods such as meat, fish and eggs; dairy; and, oils.

Nutritionists suggest that starchy food should make up just over a third of the food we eat. Consuming those foods – like any other – in moderation and in the right proportion is not known to have any adverse effects on health.