2012 ‘Best Diets’ rankings

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDJan 5 2012

Those aspiring to lose weight and eat healthy this New Year may benefit from the U.S. News & World Report's 2012 Best Diets rankings. Each year, U.S. News accumulates data from scientific journals, government reports, and solicits input from 22 experts in food science and nutrition, to come up for its rankings.

The 22-person volunteer panel that chose the diets included Brian Wansink of the Cornell University Food and Brand lab, Dr. Jo Ann Manson of Harvard Medical School and Dr. David Katz of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center.

According to the latest report DASH diet is the No. 1 overall best diet. Weight Watchers diet ranked No. 1 for weight loss and easiest to follow. This year U.S. News ranked which diets are easiest to follow. Factors associated with ease of following included taste appeal, ease of initial adjustment, ability to keep dieters from feeling hungry, and special eating restrictions.

DASH that stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension was the best diet for healthy eating and the best diabetes diet. It may also help lower cholesterol, as it's big on whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins.

A 2008 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that among 88,517 women who were followed for 24 years, the DASH diet was associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke in middle age.

Weight Watchers diet ranked high as well, voted best weight-loss diet, best commercial diet plan and easiest diet to follow. Weight Watchers also came out ahead in a September 2011 study in the journal the Lancet, in which 772 overweight and obese adults were randomly assigned to be treated by a doctor, or to Weight Watchers. Those in the Weight Watchers program lost about twice as much as those under a doctor's care.

Among other top rankers was the Ornish diet, which groups foods from most healthful (fresh fruits and vegetables, vegetarian protein sources) to least healthful (cakes, cookies, bacon, sausage). It ranked first in best heart-healthy diets.

Also on various lists were the Mediterranean diet (ranked fourth in heart-healthy diets), the Mayo Clinic diet (ranked third among best diabetes diets) and Jenny Craig (ranked second among best commercial diet plans).